To the Editor:

To those who attend Fire Department Fundraisers, the members of the Hopkinton-Ft. Jackson Fire Dept. would like to thank all those who have shown up to support us recently at our numerous fundraisers. We have hosted ham dinners, chicken BBQs, raffles, and tractor pulls…all with great success thanks to the many great people who attended these events in support of us.

Earlier this year we set ourselves a lofty goal…the purchase of a thermal imaging camera (TIC). Cameras range from about $4,000-$15,000 depending on make, model and features.

In recent years TICs have proven to be an invaluable tool in the fire and rescue service. The many uses include giving firefighters the ability to see through thick black smoke to find victims trapped inside, allowing firefighters to “see thru walls” to locate hotspots, providing real time information to officers about conditions “inside” as their firefighters advance, and even tracking heat signatures of persons lost in the woods or ejected from a vehicle during an accident. The list of uses goes on and on.

We are happy to announce, because of you all, we have reached our goal and have purchased our first Thermal Imaging Camera.

Two days after receiving our TIC the entire county was called upon to send crews with TICs to search for two missing Amish girls abducted the day before. We were proud to have joined in the search and look forward to using our new TIC in many more lifesaving applications in the future.

Thank you all again so very much!! Your years of support are greatly appreciated.

Steve Parker

Chief, Hopkinton-Fort Jackson Fire Department