photo by Leslie Cantu

Fire Coordinator John Ekaitis talks to representatives from the county fire departments before a training session on using the new thermal cameras.

photo by Leslie Cantu

The county fire departments will use these new thermal cameras that detect heat.

Dorchester County fire departments added one more tool to their collection Wednesday. Representatives from the departments gathered in Harleyville for training on thermal cameras from ISG Infrasys.

Each department will now have at least one thermal camera to help detect people trapped in buildings or fires within walls.

The Dorchester County Fire Board purchased the $9,200 cameras with money from the fire capital improvement fund, funded by a 4-mill levy on residents within the fire districts, said Fire Coordinator John Ekaitis.

Old Fort Fire Department will be adding a camera; it purchased one on its own a few years ago, said Assistant Chief William Sullivan.

So far the greatest use has actually been in locating crash victims thrown from cars into the woods. Instead of wasting time tracking through the woods trying to find the injured person, the firefighters can use the camera to lead them directly to the victim, Sullivan said.

Grover Fire Chief Wesley Infinger said the cameras will help firefighters see if there’s smoldering fire within walls without having to tear the walls apart.

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