Greeks Help Columbus Fire Department After Ohio State Tragedy...

[DeltAlum]

You may remember the deaths of three Ohio University Alpha Gams last year in Columbus. The OSU Greek Community has stepped up to help the city fire department buy a piece of equipment which might help in future fires...

The Columbus Dispatch
October 6, 2004

Gift of camera aids firefighters’ efforts
Thermal-imaging tool can help locate people in low-visibility blazes

Suzanne Hoholik

By using a thermal-imaging camera to scan a smoke-filled room,
Columbus Firefighter Caroline Graves can see if someone is trapped
inside. The $10,000 camera was purchased for Station 7 near the Ohio
State campus with donations raised in part by OSU fraternities and
sororities.

Ohio State University students flipped hundreds of flapjacks and
poured countless cups of juice to help buy a camera that will enable
Columbus firefighters to find people inside smoke-filled rooms.

It’s a tool, they believe, that might have made a difference in the
April 2003 arson that killed five college students.

"That fire was a huge deal for us," said Stacey Runion, of Kappa Delta
sorority. "It was a very hard time for everybody, but the five will
always be remembered."

Two OSU students _ Alan Schlessman, 21, of Sandusky, and Kyle Raulin,
20, of West Chester _ and three Ohio University students _ Andrea
Dennis, 20, of Madeira, Erin DeMarco, 19, of Canton, and Christine
Wilson, 19, of Dublin _ were killed in the fire that spread through the
rooming house at 64 E. 17 th Ave.

The arson remains unsolved.

Members of the OSU Greek society raised about $6,000 at firefighters’
breakfasts this year and in 2003 to help pay for a thermalimaging
camera for Station 7, on Indianola Avenue near campus.

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the OSU Medical Center
Burn Unit also pitched in on the camera’s $10,000 cost.

The camera, which can withstand temperatures of 1,500 degrees, gives
firefighters a picture inside a burning, smoke-filled room, said Lt.
David Bernzweig.

The cameras show objects based on their heat. For instance, a body
would appear lighter than the surrounding room in a fire.

"It’s hard to say what would have happened (in the arson) _ that was a
fast-moving fire," Bernzweig said. "This will greatly decrease the time
it takes to search a fire."

In a fire, humans appear as white silhouettes on the camera screen.

"In complete darkness, you’re searching by feel," said Capt. James
Davis, vice president of International Association of Fire Fighters
Local 67.

"With this camera, you can scan a room very quickly to see if there is
someone there and go right to that area."

The Fire Division has about 20 thermal-imaging cameras across the city.

The OSU Greek Society said it will continue to raise funds for Station
7.

"They were the ones that helped so much on the campus fires and impact
our lives," Runyon said. "We’ve actually had them come talk to chapters
on fire safety and plan to have them back for Michigan week."

Columbus City Councilman Kevin L. Boyce commended the different groups.

"Government can’t save lives by itself. We have to come together," he
said. "This piece of equipment provides eyes for firefighters when they
can’t see."