The Lancaster Lions Club recently donated $20,000 to the Lancaster City Fire Department to purchase two new thermal imaging cameras (TICs). Fire Chief Todd Hutchinson demonstrated the new camera at a recent Lions Club meeting.

In addition to the two original cameras that were ordered, Hutchinson was able to purchase 10 additional smaller cameras. The larger cameras are used by the unit officers, and the smaller cameras are used by firefighters.

The TICs work by rendering infrared radiation as visible light. Since the TICs can see through darkness or smoke, they allow firefighters to quickly find the seat of a structure fire or see the heat signature of visually obscured victims. The cameras can be used to search for victims outdoors on a cool night, spot smoldering fires inside a wall, or detect overheating electrical wiring.

With the addition of the two new larger cameras, every city firetruck has a camera. Within a week of receiving the new cameras, the fire department used them in a fire rescue in Lancaster city.

Funding for the cameras came from the Lancaster Lions Club, Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Service Foundation, and Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.

For more information about the Lancaster Lions Club, visit http://www.lancasterlionsclub.com.