Vision-Driven Indoor Fire Rescue System for Optimized Safety and Rapid Response

Firefighting in perilous environments necessitates heightened situational awareness to navigate dense smoke, extreme heat, and obstructed visibility. Conventional thermal imaging devices are expensive and often lack real-time hands-free functionality. This study presents a cost-effective alternative by adapting an ESP32CAM as a thermal imaging device and integrating it with a virtual reality(VR) headset to enhance firefighters visual capabilities. The system captures thermal imagery via an infrared sensor, processes data using an ESP32 microcontroller, and wirelessly transmits it to a VR headset. The VR interface provides an immersive, real time thermal view, allowing firefighters to detect heat signatures, locate individuals in distress, and assess structural stability. The study details hardware adaptations, sensor fusion, and software design while benchmarking performance against traditional thermal imaging systems. This compact, cost-efficient solution offers future advancements, including AI-driven threat identification, AR enhancements, and collaborative VR functionality, significantly improving firefighter safety, reducing response time, and optimizing rescue mission efficacy.