5.2. SR 10-04-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~/ 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 C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK66\2010-10-04 5 2 Them~al Imaging Camera.doc