Thermal Camera On Aircraft Helped Firefighters Pinpoint Blaze In A Store

Firefighters in Coral Springs, FL used a drone last week to help them fight a fire that broke out in a Dollar Tree store in the city.

The fire reportedly started in an area where chemicals are stored in the store, according to the website Coral Springs Talk. When firefighters arrived, the found very heavy smoke pouring out of the building, making it very difficult for the crew to see the blaze.

Fire Division Chief Mike Moser said that the situation was somewhat more complicated than normal because of the type of the store, and they didn't know the full extent of what was inside. There could have been extremely flammable items in the store that could have put firefighters at risk.

To help locate the fire, the crew deployed a drone with a thermal imaging camera to fly over the building. The aircraft transmitted video signals back to the team on the ground which allowed them to locate a hot spot, indicating the location of the blaze.

While no one was injured, the store was thought to be a total loss.

(Image from facebook)

FMI: www.coralsprings.org/fire