Jan. 17—High-powered thermal cameras that can see through smoke and fire, alongside live demonstrations of cutting-edge training systems and rescue equipment, drew first responders from across the Southeast to the annual NAFECO Vendor Expo at Ingalls Harbor on Thursday.
The expo included all manufacturers of equipment for first responders which can be purchased through NAFECO, or North American Fire Equipment Company. Headquartered in Decatur, NAFECO provides equipment, supplies, and services for emergency responders, including firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.
“The is the 14th year for NAFECO doing an expo for our customers throughout the Southeast,” NAFECO Vice President Ronald Woodall said. “It’s for them to come and see new products and learn about products through demonstrations.”
Chris Dvorscak, a marketing project specialist for LION, demonstrated a hood line training system outside. The setup featured a burner unit resembling a barbecue pit, with a water-filled trough beneath it, connected to a mobile trailer housing propane tanks that fueled the controlled flames. Using a handheld controller, Dvorscak activated various fire stages or zones to create realistic training scenarios.
“It just gets fed liquid propane and we have four different zones we can use with the training,” Dvorscak said. “Usually, if you have a tank on fire or fire near a tank, you’re cooling the tank down. So, this is simulating that there’s a fire under the tank, so you’ll have a hand line cooling that down.”
A small car’s frame was positioned beside the burner unit, and Dvorscak explained that the propane trailer can also simulate fires within the vehicle. He said this exercise allows firefighters and emergency medical technicians to collaborate on extinguishing vehicular fires and rescuing trapped motorists.
Scott Epstein, a salesperson with Seek Thermal, was also outside showing firefighters their latest edition thermal imaging cameras, which not only can detect heat from a fire but can distinguish both the heat and individuals near the fire and can navigate firefighters through smoky structures.
As Dvorscak lit up the burner unit, Epstein’s camera illuminated both the fire and Dvorscak standing beside it and the two were clearly defined.
“We have this personal situational awareness camera and our big focus is to get one of these in every firefighter’s hands so they can get home to their families at night,” Epstein said. “This is a lifesaving tool, both for victims and firefighters.”
The cameras Epstein displayed were the FirePRO 300, which is their latest edition camera, and the higher powered AttackPRO.
“They can see the heat and where the fire is,” Epstein said. “It lets them know where they need to (spray) water. The cameras can also withstand heat at a lengthier rate; the (AttackPRO) can withstand 500 degrees at five minutes and the (FirePRO) can withstand 500 degrees at one minute.”
Decatur Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Ashley England said his department purchased Seek Thermal cameras a few years ago. He and Chief Tracy Thornton attended Thursday’s expo.
“We buy a large portion of equipment from NAFECO, as far as our fans and uniforms,” England said. “We just walked around and talked to people and I looked at different types of gloves they had there, things of that nature to see what they had to offer and hopefully purchase some stuff like that in the future.”
England said having the expo in Decatur was not only great for nearby fire departments, but for fire departments outside of the state as well. Woodall said there were fire departments visiting the expo from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and North Carolina.
Tony Watson, fire chief for the Pigeon Forge Fire Department in Tennessee, said he was interested in the inflatable rescue boat being displayed outside, manufactured by ONE Boat Rescue Boats in Athens. He said he has been to every expo that NAFECO has hosted.
“Our area really got affected by Hurricane Helena, so one thing we’re looking at right now is a boat,” Watson said. “We have several water rescue teams in (Sevier County), and we have rubberized boats, but when we get to operating in environments up there, we need a motorized boat. This expo has been very effective to me as I’m seeing the newest and greatest technology here, so this is a one-stop shop for me.”
— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.