Firefighters already know how indispensable MSA's latest Argus 2 Thermal Imaging Camera can be during tense search and rescue missions.

Firefighters arriving on the scene can also use the Argus 2 TIC to immediately spot the seat of a fire. Rather than having to douse an entire floor of a structure, it enables them to pinpoint the area that needs water fast.

"However, this improved version of the original Argus Plus TIC with BST-technology has found equal success in less traditional applications," said Becky Gerheim, product line manager of MSA's thermal imaging product line.

With its enhanced digital-image processing and ergonomic design, the Argus 2 TIC is being used for fire prevention, by respondents to hazardous material spills, and in industry for preventative machinery maintenance.

"The longer they're out there, the more creative people become with the uses," Gerheim said. "Everybody who has these cameras loves them. We get a lot of positive feedback."

In addition to helping firefighters see through dense smoke and darkness to find potential victims, the Argus 2 TIC helps locate leaks in containers holding toxic chemicals, electrical standards that could later cause structural fires, and overheated machine parts that could soon break down.

The Argus 2 can pick up even the smallest thermal source. Members of the Baltimore Fire Co. used it earlier this year to find a missing cat that had wedged itself behind the drywall of a home, Gerheim said.

Note: Although MSA is adding the new Evolution family to our TIC line, we will continue to support and promote the Argus 2 model. It's an excellent, state-of-the-art TIC that's available immediately.

For more information about thermal imaging cameras, call your local MSA-authorized fire service distributor or the MSA Customer Service Center at 1-800-MSA-2222.