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“These thermal cameras are pieces of equipment that can literally mean life or death for not only the people in trouble, but for our people as well,” said Wagoner. “Thermal cameras can see in complete darkness using heat signatures emitted by people and objects. These cameras can assist us in locating trapped individuals is search and rescue operations.”

Wagoner says the special cameras are also used to detect “trapped fire.”

“Fire can take on a life of its own,” he said. “It can be trapped behind a wall or closed doors. The cameras allow us to find that trapped fire before entering a room or tearing into a wall. If undetected that fire will rush out once more oxygen hits it and can potentially kill. We really have to be careful about feeding a fire when on a call to extinguish it. Fire is extremely dangerous and can destroy a home and or kill within minutes. The earlier we can detect where people are, the better chance we have at getting them out alive. You really have to be ready for anything.”

With his department getting a grant that allowed them to purchase three new cameras, Wagoner went to the city council and requested that he be allowed to donate the older cameras to other fire departments in Macon County.

“Those cameras are still 100% functional,” said Wagoner. “I applied for a grant that allowed for new equipment, and those cameras were on the list for available grants. The cameras we had needed new batteries which are around $250-$300. The cameras are around $3,000, so I went ahead and got us new cameras, and we donated the older ones to the other departments. They get these cameras and at the most might have to buy new batteries. That helps everybody.”

He said the donation made sense.

“We are all in this together,” said Wagoner. “This helps everyone have good working equipment and ready to go at a moment’s notice. These cameras can now be on multiple trucks in each department, at all times.”

Wagoner and his department donated two cameras to the Willette Fire Department, and one to the Red Boiling Springs Fire Department.

“The reason we donated two to Willette is because they had none,” said Wagoner. “We donated one to Red Boiling Springs because they already had one. This gives both departments two.”