Eagle Bank Donates Imagers to High Ridge Fire Department

The was the recipient of a lifesaving thermal imager Thursday at a presentation at the firehouse by Eagle Bank and Trust Company president Michael Walsh.

HRFD Chief Mike Arnhart accepted the donation, which is part of the bank's celebration of its 100th anniversary, according to bank spokesman Susan Evans.

Thermal imagers can help save the lives of both firefighters and victims during fire rescues, especially when there is heavy smoke, she said. They are crucial for fire departments, protecting fire fighters as they navigate structural fires and execute search and rescue attempts.     

Evans said Eagle Bank donated the thermal imagers to make the celebration more about the neighborhoods that the bank serves versus just being about the bank. Evans said bank representatives consulted with a few fire departments in their various communities and thermal imagers were suggested by the departments as a helpful device. 

HRFD Capt. Dan Brown displayed the new, compact imager, comparing it with a more bulky and more expensive version already owned by the department. The imager is able to "see" potential victims at a fire scene or other locations by picking up the heat signature of a person.

"If it assists each and every one of us coming home at night, then it's done its job," Brown said.

Eagle Bank also is making donations to 11 other fire departments located in Affton, Arnold, Brentwood, Cedar Hill, Chippewa, DeSoto, Festus, West County, Hillsboro, Kirkwood and Perryville.

According to Eagle Bank, Missouri has been ranked as the 10th deadliest state when it comes to fire deaths, with an average of 120 fire deaths annually and this donation is an effort to help prevent those deaths.

The imagers cost approximately $5,000 each.