New state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology was used to search for a woman in a fire that destroyed a unit at Dapto.The woman was initially believed to be inside the premises, but was later found safe and well.Fifteen people were evacuated from the Bambil Cres unit complex and a neighbouring house when the fire broke out just before 8pm on Monday.Police said the blaze appeared to have started in the lounge room before spreading through the unit.A crime scene was established, although police said the fire did not appear to be suspicious.A neighbour said he became aware of the fire when he smelt smoke. "We went outside and the flames were coming out of the windows and roof," he said."We were evacuated and weren't able to return to our homes for about three hours."NSW Fire Brigade Dapto station manager Darin Sullivan said crews from both Dapto and Unanderra responded and were placed into "offensive operations", which occur when firefighters are committed in dangerous conditions, in this case searching for trapped people.He said the emergency enabled crew members to use the new thermal imaging camera, which is used to locate people in zero visibility.With the roof of the unit in danger of collapsing, Mr Sullivan was able to search the building remotely, rather than send in firefighters and place their lives in danger.The $17,000 device arrived last Friday and was used that night during a call-out to a garage fire.Dapto station officer Wayne Bebington said the camera used infra-red sensors to detect heat in search and rescue situations and "hot spots" within the premises. "It's one of the best firefighting tools the brigades have been given," he said."We can put the camera on a door and know whether there's going to be a danger whereas before we had to open the door to find out."He said that sometimes firefighters were forced to pull down walls and other structures in the search for fire, whereas the camera helped prevent such unnecessary property damage.