The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
Oquawka- Several firemen gathered from four different fire departments in Henderson County to receive thermal imaging cameras that can assist them in locating victims in accidents or fires, thanks to a Homeland Security Grant obtained by John Carrier, Henderson County Emergency Manager Director (EMA).
$72,427 in federal grant money was obtained over the last couple years by Carrier, who could be known as the "grant man," around the fire and sheriff's departments.
Carrier even writes a grant each year that pays for over half his own expenses and his salary that employs him yearly.
"There are lots of grant moneys available," Carrier said, as he explained that he receives notices daily of grants that can be applied for.
It simply means taking the time of doing the paper work.
The dozen or so firemen who gathered Thursday evening were quite excited and pleased about the gift they were receiving for their departments. They were discussing how the cameras could have cost them as much as $20,000 if they had to purchase them retail without the special group discount and grants.
Carrier was able to stretch the federal grant dollars by using "creative financing and bargaining," he said
Earl Waller Fire Chief of the Raritan Fire Department said, "There was a lot of grant writing done by John Carrier. If it weren't for him we probably wouldn't have gotten the cameras,"
The cameras, which can detect heat from a body can not only be used to find a person that might be entrapped in a fire, but can also detect the heat from a seat of a vehicle to let emergency crews know if a person had been sitting in that seat and possibly was thrown out of the vehicle.
Fire departments receiving the cameras were Biggsville, Raritan, Oquawka, and Gladstone.
The MST Fire Department in Stronghurst already had purchased their own thermal imaging camera, Carrier said, and Lomax Fire Department is in with the Dallas City Fire Department in Hancock County now.
Out of the $57,430 grant moneys, $13,808 worth of equipment went for safety equipment for police.
In all nine of the cars in the Sheriff's Department plus in the Gulfport Marshal Garrett Cargill's car went a CPS-V Alarm, a Sony Video Camera which could be used in DUI's etc to help in court, a nightshot camera effective for 100 feet with no light, and 1,000 feet in low light, plus a bullet proof vest.
The grant also purchased a chemical safe suit, which runs on batteries, and a tracker for the Sheriff's Department.
The tracker was unique- much like On Star that General Motors has available in their cars and trucks, and can find lost vehicles or navigate people to specific destinations. It gives actual latitude and longitude.
During a storm or foggy night, the tracker can direct an emergency landing of a helicopter, for instance, or could navigate police to a certain destination.
Another interesting fact Don Seitz, deputy sheriff and Gladstone fireman told about was that bullet proof vests have a shelf life and must be replaced after five years at a cost of $500-$800.
After the presentation the firemen agreed that the Scott's Thermal Imaging Cameras were a nice addition to their departments.
"If it saves 1 life, it is more than worth the money," Seitz said.
Firemen "Tex" Stewart of Gladstone and Bill Tobias of Oquawka check out the new thermal imaging cameras they received prior to a presentation last Thursday evening at the Oquawka Fire Department. Other firemen in background are Earl Waller, Dave Hammitt, Ron Gipe and Dan Kane.