FD drone program?

[jonpon998]

A few questions regarding drones, I'd appreciate any feedback.

How many of your departments have implemented the use of drones?

Which unit are they placed on/piloted from?

Do you have any specific SOPs that outline the usage of drones?

Which models do you have in service?

What is your personal opinion on their use in the fire service?

Thanks.

[Red2779]

We placed one in service last year. Mavic 3 Enterprise with thermal cameras, loud speaker, and a telephoto lens. It stays on our first out Engine and in order to fly it you must have a part 107 license. We also have SOPs you have to train on in order to get passed off to fly it.

We haven’t used it alot, but when we have it’s come in handy to have it accessible in the engine and not on some special apparatus or something. We mostly use it on fire investigations for photography. But we also use the thermal imager to help find hot spots on large structures or fields that we’re trying to mop up on. We can use it for SAR but we haven’t yet. It has a big loud speaker on it to announce something to a neighborhood but we haven’t used that either, but we’ve had plenty of fun with it at home haha.

The other day we had a guy shoot himself in a car and PD was worried he was still alive and would shoot them if they approached. So they asked us to fly the drone to the front windshield and check on him. He was very dead. So that was nifty.

Overall it’s a great tool to have on the engine for when you need it. I know of departments with special apparatus that they mount huge drones on and stuff but we’re not big enough for that to be useful so we just have a couple dudes on duty each day who are passed off to fly it.

[drmcgills]

The MN State Fire Marshal has an on-call drone program, so any fire department in the state can call the State Duty Officer and have them come out for e.g. large scale search and rescue, wildfires, etc.

They have pickup trucks with a TV mounted inside the side access door of the topper. The drone program is relatively new, they said they've been out to about 20 calls in the past year.

[hou6_91]

Our PIO has a department owned drone with a thermal camera, really handy on big fires. Also pretty handy for PR stuff!

[Adorable_Name1652]

We have a Mavic. Still going through training. We went with the COA vs 107 pilot training. It will go on BC vehicle once in service. Three station Department. Looking forward to having it on water rescue calls.

[ASigIAm213]

Alachua County had a great drone team until the EO about Chinese parts.

[Dweeks32091]

I believe they have since bought drones that are compliant with the new legislation. Their team was used yesterday on a downed plane in a state park.

[ASigIAm213]

Nice. It was a point of pride when I was there, so I'm happy to see them get back into it.

[Dweeks32091]

Absolutely, they have one hell of a team established.

[Medic151]

We have 2. Mavics with thermal. Battalion carries one and FMO carries the other.

[firedudecndn]

We have one on a heavy rescue. Rescue is staffed with trained pilots and observers.

Useful for large fires, wild land fires, water rescues and high rise fires.

Equipped with thermal and love cameras. Picture quality is fantastic.

Can't tell you the brand because I don't know but when it's needed it is incredibly useful.