Cave City Fire Department receives grant to purchase infrared camera devices 

CAVE CITY, Ky.-Cave City first responders are using infrared camera devices to save lives and solve crimes.

The cameras detect body heat, which makes it easier to find people who aren’t immediately visible.

The Cave City Fire Department recently received a $3,200 grant from the state to purchase new infrared devices. The Battalion Chief explains how the device is used.

“When we come inside of a fire, we have smoke down to the floor and you can’t see your hand in front of your face. The camera goes through that smoke and you can actually see the layout of your building, or wherever your inside of,” said Kevin Poynter, Battalion Chief at Cave City Fire Department.

The Fire Department already had three older versions of the infrared cameras. Now they have four new upgraded versions, each costing around $800.

“They’re not just for going out and fighting fires. We use them a lot of times for man tracking. If we have a wreck or something, and if there was possible two or three people inside the vehicle, we can get the camera out and scan,” said Poynter.

They share the camera devices with the Cave City Police Department.

“Our fire department was fortunate enough to get a grant to where they got some thermal imaging cameras. We rely on them quite a bit for a missing person or something of that nature. We can call them out, and they can use these cameras to pick up body heat and locate these people,” said Terrill Riley, Chief of Police at Cave City Police Department.

The device’s ability to detect body heat has been helpful to police trying to locate someone missing or hiding.

“Obviously there are times that people run from us. We’ve called them out a time or two for that. We have had a couple cases where we had some missing kids and been able to use them for that and actually locate them,” said Riley.

The two departments have agreed to continue sharing the devices in order to keep the Cave City community safe.