HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/21/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (6) DATE: June 21, 2000
TO: City Council
FROM: Procurement Manager and Fire Chief
APPROVE PURCHASE OF THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS FOR USE IN FIRE FIGHTING
AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council approve the purchase of two(2)thermal imaging cameras
from Allstar Fire Equipment, Inc. of Arcadia, CA in the amount of$46,332.50 for use in fire
fighting and rescue activities throughout the City and at the Palm Springs International Airport.
BACKGROUND:
Thermal imaging cameras (TICs), initially developed and utilized for national defense, have
been redeveloped for use by fire agencies. The cameras utilize thermal (heat) imaging
technology to provide vital information to firefighters responding to incidents in which visibility
is limited by either smoke or low-light conditions. The cameras allow firefighters to we objects
clearly through dense smoke and in darkness, to spot dangerous obstacles,to locate victims,
and to detect and analyze a fire even when hidden inside walls.
Staff of the Fire Department attended a multi-agency demonstration of available thermal imaging
technology in July of 1999. Fire Department personnel evaluated models from different
manufacturers in order to determine fitness for use within the Department's operational
environment.
Key factors examined included the ability of the units to be utilized as a shared resource among
firefighters on scene, ease and safety of use within a dangerous environment and a proven
track record in fire suppression and rescue activity. The TIC manufactured by Bullard was
determined to be the only model meeting all of the technical and operational requirements of
the City's Fire Department.
Models available from other manufacturers failed to meet the City's operational requirements
for reasons primarily related to their design bias for use by a single person or for safety reasons.
Models designed for use by a single person (either by mounting directly to a helmet or by
displaying the image only through an eyepiece that must be held to the head)do not allow the
sharing of information derived from the thermal imaging technology. This causes a number of
operational problems including limited information being readily available for firefighters
performing a search or rescue,firefighting tactics being crippled due to lack of information about
the source and propagation pattern of the fire, and degradation or loss of peripheral vision
resulting in reduced safety in hazardous and rapidly-changing environments. Handheld models
with a shareable viewscreen output of thermal imaging data have been determined to best fit
the City's operational requirements.
Two handheld models with viewscreen output were evaluated. One model was determined to
be deficient due to it's excessive weight precluding prolonged use, and controls that were too
small to be effectively operated in fire fighting turnout gear and structure gloves.
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Approve purchase of thermal imaging cameras
June 21, 2000
Page 2
Staff therefore recommends that City Council approve the purchase of the Bullard thermal
imaging equipment. Allstar Fire Equipment Company is the exclusive distributor of Bullard
equipment in the State of California.
The City has received a grant from the State of California's Office of Traffic Safety for use in
purchasing one unit and the Airport is providing the funds for the second unit. Funds are
available in the following accounts: 3520-53008 Fire Department, OTS Grant Account -
$23,166.25 and 6075-50015,Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting, Specialized Equipment Account-
$23,166.25.
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HAROLD E. GOOD BARY A. F EET
Procurement Manager Fire Chief
APPRO)oJED:
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(1) Minute Order
R3 WIM.OF FINANCE
MINUTE ORDER NO.
APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2)
THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS FROM
ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT, INC. OF
ARCADIA,CA IN THE AMOUNT OF$46,332.50
FOR USE IN FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE
ACTIVITIES
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order approving the purchase of two(2)thermal imaging
cameras from Allstar Fire Equipment, Inc. of Arcadia, CA in the amount of$46,332.50 for use
in fire fighting and rescue activities, was approved by the City Council of the City of Palm
Springs, California in a meeting thereof held on the 21 at day of June, 2000.
PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk