Firefighters Use Thermal Camera to Seek Out Flames

Teaneck firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to locate a fire spreading in the ceiling of a Belle Avenue house early Thursday, officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched around 5:45 a.m. for a call of smoke in the house, according to Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Draney. Fire crews were on the scene in four minutes and found light smoke coming from the attic.

An initial search of the attic turned up smoke, but no fire, Draney said.

“Through the use of thermal imaging cameras and training, the fire department was able to find a high heat condition in the ceiling of a second floor bedroom around a ceiling fan. Crews opened the ceiling and exposed an extending fire,” Draney said.

Firefighters found a tripped circuit breaker in the basement and traced the source of the fire to a wiring problem, he said. The home had smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but some were not working.

"The fire department can not stress enough the importance of these life saving devices,” the deputy chief said.