Samsung donates equipment to firefighters

Samsung Electronics’ thermal imaging camera and communications equipment that will be distributed to fire stations in celebration of Firefighting Day on Nov. 9. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics is donating thermal imaging cameras and communication equipment to fire stations nationwide in celebration of National Firefighting Day on Nov. 9.

The electronics giant on Wednesday said it will donate 1,000 of each device to the fire service.

Samsung said it held a session at the National Fire Agency in Sejong to demonstrate the use of the thermal imaging cameras and the communication equipment. The event was attended by 50 firefighters.

Samsung said the equipment will be distributed starting this month.

The thermal imaging camera allows firefighters to see heat through smoke, darkness or heat-permeable barriers by rendering infrared radiation as light. Samsung’s product is cheaper, lighter and easier to control, according to the company. It was developed based on feedback it has received over the last two years.

The equipment was created based on a suggestion from a firefighter who submitted the idea to Samsung Tomorrow Solutions, a corporate social responsibility program held since 2013 to solve social issues through technical skills.

Firefighters often struggle with their existing communication equipment due to their rapid movement and the noise at disaster sites. The communication equipment from Samsung is able to clearly deliver messages even in difficult situations, Samsung says.

“We hope to deliver a better life for everyone based on our revolutionary technologies,” said a spokesperson for Samsung Electronics in a statement. “I hope these products can help raise the efficiency at disaster sites, not just at scenes of fire.”

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]