The purchase of seven thermal imaging cameras was approved Monday night for firefighters in Darlington County.
Darlington County Fire District Chief Ricky Flowers confirmed to News13 that the $54,432 purchase was approved during the most recent Darlington County Council meeting.
The department currently has five cameras in use. The others have been taken out of service due to age and needing repairs.
With the new purchase approval, a thermal imaging camera will be on each first-out engine in the county. The cameras are used to find victims quickly in smoke-filled compartments and are also used to find hidden fires, to limit damage. Funds are available with the fire department budget.
The cameras will come from Newton’s Fire & Safety, Inc.
In December of 2017, the Darlington County Fire District bought dozens of similar cameras.
