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WMFD unveils new equipment at council meeting

WMFD unveils new equipment at council meeting

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WMFD unveils new equipment at council meeting

Fire Department shows off new truck, camera mask

news@theeveningtimes.com

The West Memphis Fire Department conducted show and tell during its first commission meeting with City Council. Assistant Chief Jeff Jones explained a new camera mask that helps fire fighters find people in a fire. He said the mask will be a life-saver and brought it to the meeting to demonstrate the necessity of investing in technology. Two new thermal imagining mask mounted cameras were obtained through the Arkansas County Turn-back 833 Grant bringing to the total the department owns to four.

The committee also heard a big thank you for the new ladder truck, an overview of department personnel news. Jones introduced the mask to the city council members.

“This was unheard of 25 year ago,” said Jones. “In 1999, the Lion’s Club bought us a thermal imaging camera — it cost almost $40,000. This camera makes it easier to find victims in a fire. We took delivery on two yesterday at $1,800 a piece. That’s fantastic compared to where we used to be.”

The camera projects the image onto a small display inside the mask.

“It’s like an x-ray, you get the full outline of the person and it even shows up in the cross hair with the heat signature,” said Lt. Scott Simpson. “It’s not safe for us to even be in a fire above a certain temperature. In previous years you had to trust instincts. This allows us to see the temperature and recognize.

“This helps us see to get to victims a lot faster,” said Jones.

Human resource news was a mixed bag. One employee was suspended for attendance, but the department had hired five since the last committee meeting. The department will have three at an upcoming fire training academy in March.

“We hired a qualified paramedic; he’s had all the training,” said Jones.

“We’ve made some good hires recently. One of the hires came over from the police department.”

Mayor Johnson appoints a city council member from each of the five wards to work on the fire department committee. Ward 2 Councilor Melanie Hutchinson and Ward 4 representative Marco McClendon were absent. The three councilors present constituted a quorum for the meeting. In annual committee business Tracy Catt from Ward 1 was re-elected committee chairman, Ramona Taylor from Ward 3 and Helen Harris of Ward 5 were present. The group set 2017 monthly meetings for second Tuesdays at noon in City Hall.

By John Rech

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