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Davenport Fire Department Gets New Tech

Davenport Fire Department

Davenport firefighters have a new tool for finding fires in the Quad Cities. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, an affiliate of Firehouse Subs restaurants, has awarded a 25,000 dollar grant to the department that will pay for three new thermal imaging cameras.

Davenport Assistant Chief Rob MacDougall says that the cameras can find hotspots that aren't visible to the firefighters. 

"One of the biggest things about a fire that would seem obvious, but some people don't always realize, is that the smoke is the biggest factor in a fire. It's the first thing that usually kills people and it also makes it extremely difficult to see and remove victims from a fire," said MacDougall. "A thermal imaging camera allows us to speed up the process, get right to a victim, and remove them quicker."

With the cameras, firefighters won't have to blindly search walls, attics, crawlspaces, and other cramped or obstructed areas for hidden fire. MacDougall says this means it takes less time to find the fire, put it out, and rescue anyone who may be inside.

MacDougall credits Davenport Fire Captain Craig Black for his role in getting the new cameras. Black researched, wrote, and submitted the grant application. 

I'm currently a Senior at Augustana College, working on majors in Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communication and Communication Studies. In addition to interning at the station, I also work for the Augustana Observer, the college's official student newspaper, as a writer for the Arts and Entertainment section.