5.2. SR 10-04-2010~/
Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
River
To Item Number
Ci Council 5.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Administration October 4, 2010 T. ohn Cunnin ham, Fire Chief
Item Description Reviewed by
Thermal Imaging Camera Replacement Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Reviewed by
Tim Simon, Finance Director
Action Requested
The Elk River Fire Department is seeking approval to replace its aging thermal imaging cameras which
have been failing.
BaclSground/Discussion
Presently, the Elk River Fire Department has two Scott EagleX thermal imaging cameras on its first due
fire engines (distributed between Station 1 and Station 2). On a number of recent occasions, the cameras
have been failing, often times not even powering on after being removed from the charger. The most
recent failure occurred Saturday, September 25, 2010, when crews were dispatched to a fire at a multi-
unit apartment complex in Elk River. While the failure did not impact the operations, it highlighted the
on-going maintenance troubles the department has been experiencing with these units.
One camera, which had been previously removed from service, has since been fixed and a new charger
has been purchased. The second camera is currently out of service. While some of the issues have been
resolved to the charging unit, the irregular behavior of the cameras continues to be a concern for the
safety of our firefighters and the community.
Today, thermal imaging cameras are one of the primary tools firefighters use for search and rescue as
they allow the team to "see" through otherwise thick, black, opaque smoke. They also enable firefighters
to locate hidden fire and identify potential hazardous conditions without causing damage to walls or
structures. They are tools that ideally should be available on all first due fire vehicles including engines,
ladders, and rescues.
The present cameras were received through donations and did not have a financial impact on the City at
the time they were acquired. While the department is extremely thankful for the donations, thermal
imaging technology has continued to evolve and, given the very recent technical difficulties we have
experienced, the department hopes to begin replacing the cameras as quickly as possible.
Financial Impact
The Elk River Fire Department would like to immediately replace one thermal imaging camera. The
department is currently researching and evaluating various brands and models. I expect final proposals
and evaluations to be completed by the end of this week. The fire department is requesting approval to
purchase one thermal imaging camera at a cost not to exceed $11,100.00. The department will contribute
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$2,000 from donations received and the remaining balance would come from the capital outlay reserve
fund. We anticipate adding a second camera replacement in the 2011 budget.
Attachments
None
Actlon Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
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