A thermal imaging system for use with a respirator mask comprising an in-mask display unit, and methods of configuring and operating such a system. The system uses a thermal imaging camera to capture a thermal image. The system is configured with the capability to shift from a default view in which an in-mask micro-display of the in-mask display unit shows a primary subimage of the captured thermal image but does not show a secondary subimage of the captured thermal image, to an auxiliary view in which the secondary subimage is now shown in place of at least a portion of the primary subimage.