Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has taken delivery of new high-tech thermal imaging cameras which will be used by frontline crews across the County.

The cameras allow firefighters to search for people trapped in smoke filled rooms and to find and eliminate hot-spots which could be hidden behind a wall or in a roof space.

In all the Service has invested in 80 cameras which will be distributed to all frontline crews in the Service.

It is just the latest investment the Service has made in frontline crews and their safety.

It follows more than a million pounds worth of investment in the latest breathing apparatus and radio sets and comes ahead of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service investing £8 million in new pumping appliances.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Adam Eckley said: “These thermal imaging cameras are the best on the market. They are just the latest investment we have made in our frontline crews’ safety and ensuring that we provide a robust response to all emergency incidents.

“This is part of the ongoing work we are doing in improving our operational capacity, investing in the safety of our crews and ensuring they have the best equipment available.”

The cameras were delivered Scott Safety on Friday August 14.

They were dropped off by Mike Tarbard, Product Manager, Justin Harper, Business Development Manager, Nicola Whitehead, UK Sales Manager and Karis Higson, Marketing Communications, all from Scott Safety.