The brigade secured $3800 through the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program to purchase the camera.
The new addition will help volunteers detect heat beneath the surface, target water usage more effectively and check firegrounds for lingering hotspots to reduce the risk of reignition.
Wyuna Fire Brigade second lieutenant Joseph Borrelli said the camera would benefit volunteers at structure, grass and scrub fires, where hot embers and burning tree stumps could cause reignition but can be difficult to spot with the naked eye.
He said volunteers could spend two or three times longer at a fireground after the flames were extinguished, checking for hotspots which could otherwise go undetected.
The camera will be the first owned by the Wyuna Fire Brigade, which has previously relied on borrowing thermal imaging equipment from neighbouring brigades.
Mr Borrelli said having its own equipment would allow the brigade to work more independently and better manage hotspots within its response area.
He said VESEP grants were particularly important for smaller brigades with limited fundraising opportunities.
“The VESEP grants are very important to smaller brigades like us to be able to get some of this operational equipment we wouldn't be able to fund ourselves otherwise,” he said.
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