Hot Springs Fire tests new equipment while fighting fire

HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Fire Department got to put their new thermal imaging equipment to the test on Monday, March 12, when they responded to a fully engulfed shop with an apartment complex in it. 

According to Hot Springs Mayor and Fire Chief Randy Woods, the owner of the shop was working on a motor home when it caught fire. With no telephone in the building, one of the neighbors had to call in the flames.

Once the fire department arrived, they were able to use their new thermal sensing technology to take a closer look.  The device let the responders pinpoint the source of the flames, which were coming from the motor home. Without the equipment, the fire department would have been going into the blaze blind.

“Our biggest problem was the garage was so full of stuff, we were hesitant to send people in,” Woods said.

There was an imminent danger present and so the fire department first knocked down the fire and cleared paths before sending anyone in. 

After 10-15 minutes of calming the flames, the firefighters were able to go inside. 

Without the equipment, Woods said he would have not been able to make it to the motor home.

“My feelings are the thermal imaging camera is the most important tool because you can actually find the fire and you are able to go after that fire instead of searching for it,” Woods explained. 

The equipment is approximately a month old and replaced older thermal imaging equipment that the department had before. According to Woods, the new equipment is far more advanced than what the department previously had. 

After over two and a half hours, the fire department was able to save the building. They left it standing, but Woods said the building incurred heavy damage to the support structure and will probably have to be torn down.

During the call, Chief Cliff was sent to assist Hot Springs by Lake County Dispatch. Because of the long distance between the two, once the assisting party arrived, the fire had already been put out.

Woods said they never called for assistance, although he did say it would have been nice because the crew was worn out after fighting the flames.  

With five or six responders, the crew was stretched thin, but was able to accomplish the task.

“It would have been nicer if we had a little more help at the beginning, maybe we would have been able to do a little more a little quicker,” Woods said. “Once we got organized with our short crew, we did very well with the help of our thermal imaging cameras.”

This call was one of the approximately 20 or so calls Hot Springs Fire Department will get over the year. Woods said on average there are a couple calls a month.

“Our call load is down pretty good,” Woods said.