With the recent update from NFPA 1001 to NFPA 1010, all new firefighters are now required to have thermal imaging training.
NFPA 1010 section 7.3.3 states that a firefighter must:
Operate a thermal imager (TI), given a TI, SOPs, PPE, and an assignment, so that victims are located in conditions of obscured visibility, hot spots are identified in a structure, overhaul is completed, and the liquid level in a container is determined.
Requisite Knowledge: TI operating procedures and limitations of TIs.
Requisite Skills: Demonstrate the use of a TI and accurately interpret TI data to locate victims, fire, hot spots, and liquid levels in containers.
NFPA defines these terms as follows:
Requisite Knowledge (3.3.57): Fundamental knowledge one must have in order to perform a specific task.
Requisite Skills (3.3.58): The essential skills one must have in order to perform a specific task. This also includes knowledge of the device’s limitations and contraindications.
Many fire departments are not fully aware of the following limitations. This information is essential for safe and effective TIC use.
Fire Service TICs are NOT thermometers. The use of the spot temperature for decision-making is strongly discouraged and not recommended. NFPA 1801-2021 removed the spot temperature from TI Basic because it was cited as a contributing factor in three separate LODD incidents. Reference video:
Fire Service TICs do not detect gases or see through objects. Fire service TICs detect heat across surfaces within the long wave infrared radiation spectrum (7-14 microns). Many gases fall outside that range. Gases within that spectral range require a special coating and programming on the device to be detected. Reference video:
Fire Service TICs no longer “white-out” due to heat saturation. A white or gray screen is typically caused by one of three factors. The most common reason is failure to wipe the lens. When firefighters encounter a white or gray screen, they should stay low and wipe the lens each time they feel the need to wipe their face piece. Note: wipe the lens, not just the display. Reference video:
The following LODD report references both the spot temperature issue and TIC white-out. This is why education and training in this area is critical: https://cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/programs/pdfs/f202509.pdf
Insight Fire Training has developed a comprehensive library of video-based resources to support thermal imaging education. The following are recommended starting points:
Thermal Imaging 101: What Are We Seeing?
Overcoming Limitations in Thermal Imaging Usage:
Common TIC Interpretation Mistakes on the Fireground:
Addressing the Problem of White-Out:
Proper maintenance and carrying technique are critical to ensuring the TIC is ready and operational when needed.
Maintenance: For full recommendations, see: https://insighttrainingllc.com/news/thermal-imaging-camera-maintenance-recommendations/
Carrying Techniques: A nationwide survey with Firehouse magazine found that TICs are not deployed on the fireground up to 50% of the time. To carry a TIC effectively, firefighters must prioritize a method that keeps the device secure, easily accessible for scanning, and out of the way during operations.
Common carrying methods include:
For any carrying method, firefighters must be aware of single-point failures. These are connection points such as squeeze-open carabiners, key rings (not rated for heavy objects), and small pieces of fabric that weaken over time. Failure at these points can cause the device to become disconnected or lost.
Firefighters should test their chosen carrying method in a controlled environment. Avoid any method that allows the TIC to hang loosely, which can lead to damage, entanglement, or loss of the device. Reference video:
Powering Up the Device: For a thermal imaging camera to be fully operational, the following conditions must be met:
During the 30-second startup, firefighters may notice a clicking sound and the display freezing periodically. This is called Flat Field Correction (FFC), the process by which the device calibrates itself by correcting irregularities in pixel values to uniformize brightness across the image. In short: the device is warming up.
Interpretation of Thermal Data: Firefighters must be trained to properly identify thermal data in the areas of object recognition and hazard recognition. Training should occur across three temperature environments:
Objects will appear differently based on the overall background temperature. Hazard recognition training should cover convection currents, thermal layering, and colorization response.
Firefighters must be proficient in TI Basic before learning any additional advanced application modes. Each manufacturer determines when colorization engages based on their own programming. NFPA 1801/1930 requires the device to power on in TI Basic. TI Basic shall display colorization progressing from black, gray, white, yellow, orange, to red, with no more than 50% of the overall dynamic range in grayscale. Manufacturers may colorize at different temperature points as there is no single standardized threshold.
Scanning Techniques: Proper scanning is the most important skill a firefighter must develop after completing foundational training. Firefighters who scan an environment before entering can complete their tasks faster, more efficiently, and with greater situational awareness. Training should include skill stations for door scans and window scans.
The following video series was created in partnership with Fire Engineering and Seek Thermal:
4 Principles of Scanning Techniques: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighter-training/training-minutes/tic-scans-four-elements-of-a-room-scan/
Communicating TIC Findings During Search: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighter-training/training-minutes/communicating-tic-findings-during-search/
TIC Tips for Exterior Size-Up: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighter-training/training-minutes/tic-tips-for-exterior-size-up/
TIC Use for Locating the Fire: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighter-training/training-minutes/tic-use-locating-the-fire/
Primary Body Text: Training Standard: NFPA 1010 (2024)
Related Standards:
Lesson Title: Thermal Imaging for Entry Level Firefighters
Lesson Duration: 4 to 8 hours (2 hours classroom, 2 to 4 hours hands-on practical)
Target Audience: Firefighter Recruits (Firefighter I level)
Instructor Qualifications:
Upon completing the classroom portion, students should participate in a small-scale live fire demonstration such as a Palmer Dollhouse or Max Fire Box. Classroom concepts will be demonstrated so students can observe them before entering a live fire environment.
Before beginning the burn, cover general operational knowledge (requisite knowledge per NFPA 1010). Ensure students know how to set up the TIC in TI Basic or another application mode and how to switch between modes. Confirm that all students understand that IR energy travels in straight lines: standing at an angle will reduce the strength and accuracy of what the TIC detects.
During the incipient stage, have 3 to 4 students kneel and observe the fire compartment for the following demonstrations:
Gain Demonstration: Compare high and low sensitivity with mixed gain mode. Observe how increasing heat affects the firefighter’s ability to see objects in cooler areas and whether details can be seen through colorization.
Colorization: Place TICs side by side and compare colorization at different temperatures. If using the same brand and model, compare TI Basic against other application modes.
Convection Current Identification: Have students observe heat exhausting out of the first compartment into the second. Note thermal layer height and how different models display the thermal layer.
Thermal Layer Identification: Identify the thermal layer in grayscale and in color in both compartments. Open the floor door to the second floor and allow heat to move upward. Observe how the thermal layer in the second room lifts while the fire room intensifies.
Size-Up Demonstration: After a few minutes, conduct a 360 and look for thermal bridging and non-uniform patterns. This is a good time to show different application modes and how they trigger colorization at different points. Examples include Survey mode (Seek), Search and Rescue mode (FLIR KXX), Electronic Thermal Throttle (Bullard), and Size-Up mode (Argus). Notable observations include nails or screws in the Palmer Dollhouse as they heat up, and heat transfer patterns in the flow path.
Distance and Target Demonstration: Have students stand 8 feet away and view the fire room, then slowly back up until colorization disappears. This should be done in TI Basic. Seek Thermal TICs can detect heat and colorize at distances up to 900 feet. Other models typically switch back to high sensitivity or lose colorization at 15 to 30 feet. Students without a Seek TIC should drop to one knee when they lose color. Note: in a fire environment, the TIC’s ability to colorize superheated surfaces depends on smoke optical density and moisture content.
Target Recognition: Have students stand 8 to 10 feet away and view your gloved hand away from the heat source, then slowly lower it in front of the heat source. Some models will cause the hand to appear to wash out or disappear.
Scanning Demonstration: Have students begin their scan from a position away from the Palmer Dollhouse and scan across it. The instructor should stand slightly to the side of the dollhouse so that when both the dollhouse and instructor come into frame, students can observe the difference in how the instructor displays against the heat source. Also note if the TIC freezes when students scan too quickly, or when it switches gain modes.
Contraindication Demonstration: Place a reflective surface near the heat source and have students point the TIC at it. They will observe that the temperature reading is grossly inaccurate compared to the fire area. Then have firefighters search above the live fire area after the fire is extinguished. They will observe the difficulty of using the TIC in high-moisture, floor-to-ceiling smoke conditions. Students will need to slow down, get low, wipe the lens, and then move toward the target.
Phase II: Scanning Demonstrations
A small fire is required within a Class A burn building for this phase. All NFPA 1403 requirements must be met, and students must be in full PPE and SCBA.
One instructor is staged at a doorway and a second instructor at a window. Each student is guided through the steps of a door scan and a window scan.
Reference videos:
4 Principles of Scanning Techniques: https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighter-training/training-minutes/tic-scans-four-elements-of-a-room-scan/
Window Scan Techniques: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=909305525135239
Phase III: Live Fire Orientation Drill
A growth stage fire is set within a Class A burn building. All NFPA 1403 requirements must be met, and students must be in full PPE and SCBA.
Students enter the training burn building escorted by an instructor, starting from the furthest or coolest area and moving toward the hottest area. Each space is observed, scanned, and verbally reported.
Objects such as tables, chairs, cribs, and hoselines are placed in each space for identification. Firefighters should verbalize the location and direction of the fire based on observed conditions.
After the evolution, students gather to discuss questions and observations. It is strongly recommended to use thermal imaging cameras with recording and playback capability so the evolution can be reviewed immediately after.
