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When I started to work for the Los Angeles County Fire department, this was the last place where I expected to find technology. I was amazed at what kinds of technology that are available and used to fight forest fires. Water is not the only firefighting tool in the battle against a fire. Enter technology. I was contacted by the Los Angeles County Forestry Department. They wanted to create a mobile communications vehicle that they …

…infrared radiation emitted. With infrared, firefighters don’t have to fly blind anymore. In a forest fire, firefighters can track the movement and location of the fires. In the air, water dropping airplanes and helicopters will be able to pinpoint hot spots. Even after the fire has been extinguished, a thermal imaging survey can detect unseen embers. These hot spots have the potential to re-ignite. The infrared camera can also find victims through thick smoke.