Thermal imaging can not be used to get a clear view out the window, but couldn't it be helpful in finding the location of a fire on the flight deck? In case of
http://www.bfu.admin.ch/common/pdf/1602.pdf
something like
FLUKE|FLUKE TI9|THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA, FLUKE | Farnell United Kingdom
probably would have helped in rapid identification of the faulty switch. Cutting power to the circuit causing the fire as early as possible is very important, because the insulating material used in electrical installations is self extinguishing, but only, if no power is supplied and the fire is still small.
I am only SLF, but going through a checklist that requires you to shut down one source of power after the other and wait each time for the smoke to clear to me as an engineer sounds archaic. Waiting seems to be the last thing you want to do in such a situation.