A blinking green light could mean the difference between life and death the next time fire targets a house in town.
The lights are located on the side of the new masks firefighters began wearing on the job earlier this month. With funding approved by Town Meeting last year, Plymouth is the first town in the state to outfit all of its firefighters with the thermal imaging technology.
The cameras, made by Scott Safety and known as Scott Sight, attach to Scott Air-Pak masks and give firefighters the ability to locate people as well as hot spots in complete darkness or the densest smoke. Firefighters can also get an instant temperature reading simply by focusing on an object.
Fire Chief Ed BradIey said the technology will make working in dangerous conditions much safer for his firefighters, who will be able to spot one another as well as residents and sources of fire and heat. “The safety this brings is unbelievable. And if my people are safe, the public is safer too,” Bradley said.