The DeKalb Fire Department soon will purchase two new thermal imaging cameras to assist firefighters in locating people trapped in a fire and to locate hazards to the firefighters themselves. Thermal cameras allow firefighters to see through blinding smoke by sensing heat.

They will allow firefighters to locate victims, other firefighters and to assess fire conditions. Funding for the cameras came from Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has issued $9.4 million to fire departments across the nation in the 10th round of awards as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Program.

“The president and I recognize when our nation’s fire departments have the equipment to maintain a high state of readiness, our communities will be a safer place to live and work,” FEMA director Joe M. Allbaugh said.

DeKalb Fire Chief Peter Polarek said the department owns one other camera but the addition of two more will be beneficial.

“All responding fire personnel are trained in the use of the cameras,” Polarek said. “An officer of a company will probably operate the camera.”

With the cameras, officers can assess the conditions of a fire without entering a building, allowing safer and more effective deployment of fire fighters and equipment.

DeKalb Fire Department was one of 158 departments that received funding from FEMA in this round of awards. FEMA says it received more than $3 billion in requests for awards that were funded with only $100 million. To date, FEMA has issued $82.2 million of the available $100 million.

The fire department also had requested $18,000 for fire prevention programs, but the funds were denied by FEMA in early September.