Drones are increasingly marking their mark on fire service by providing real-time situational awareness, mapping the fire perimeter, identifying hot spots, and much, much more. They’ve been utilized to varying degrees in first responder scenarios of all kinds in recent years, including: industrial & structural fires, search and rescue, wildland fire overhead, hazmat response, swift water rescue, investigations/building inspections, technical rescue, and natural disaster response.
WHAT ARE DRONES USED FOR IN FIREFIGHTING?
- Situational Awareness & Hazard Assessment. Drones provide an exceptional aerial view, help prevent firefighters from be exposed to unknown hazards, and can be deployed in a few seconds. A quick, drone-provided aerial insight can give the firefighters critical information about potential rescues required, the extent of the fire, valuable information about the direction and behavior of the fire, and if there any signs of structural damage to consider. Just a few minutes’ worth of data from a drone fly-by can prove invaluable for determining an effective plan of action that is more precise and can account for safety concerns responders may not have otherwise been aware of.
- Reach Difficult Places & Payload Delivery. Drones can be piloted into tight and dangerous spaces, something that can help avoid putting humans in unsafe situations. Some drones are designed to carry a payload and may be used to deliver supplies, medical equipment, and safety gear to stranded survivors and remote rescue teams.
- Thermal Assessment & Identification of Hot Spots. Drones equipped with a thermal camera can detect temperature variations, revealing hidden hotspots and smoldering areas that might otherwise remain unnoticed. Hot spots can be particularly hazardous in fires over an expansive area, such as forest fires – since drones can cover large areas very quickly, they can provide extensive aerial surveys to look for hotspots that would be impossible from the ground. Drones also play an important role in monitoring the progress of suppression tactics, by observing and enabling in-the-moment adjustments.
- Search & Rescue. A thermal camera drone can do the work of large teams of rescuers by scanning large areas and identifying people in distress. During natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) thermal camera drones can fly disaster zones to identify trapped individuals, dangerous leaks, and more. Likewise, in low-visibility conditions – including smoke, ash, etc. – survivors may not be easily seen, and may not be in a condition to call for help. A thermal camera on a drone may still catch the heat signatures of people and animals in need of rescue, enabling firefighters to respond more quickly and efficiently.
- Crew Management. Once fire suppression is underway, field commanders can continue to monitor the area with a drone to prevent safety issues that may not be visible to the people on the ground and concentrate their efforts where they are needed the most.
- Night Operations & Illumination. A spotlight-equipped drone can be deployed where it is needed at a moment’s notice to enhance visibility, aid in hotspot location, and help allow for safer movement in low-light conditions. Fires often rage on even after the sun sets.
WHY USE DRONES?
- Reduces Risks to Human Safety. Helps reduce the risks people are the ground are exposed to. An aerial view allows drones to see details and scenarios that may not be clear to crews on the ground. Even just using drones to maneuver with super-bright flashlights can reduce the overall risk to those on the ground.
- Fast Deployment. Historically, air support was provided primarily by helicopters, the problem being timeliness – clearances, pre-flight checklists, and travel time all cause valuable seconds to tick by without the aerial view you need. Drones can be deployed quickly and reach the heart of a fire far ahead of ground-based teams, as they’re not impacted by difficult terrain, etc.
- Versatility. Drones can cover a massive area quickly, to give firefighters an overview to plan their response without compromising safety. Whether they’re used with a hi-res camera, thermal camera, flashlight, or even a payload of emergency supplies, they can prove useful in hundreds of scenarios.
- Relatively Inexpensive Compared to Alternatives. While they’re not exactly cheap, when compared to the cost of renting a helicopter for air support, drones are much more economical. And depending on your typical mix of calls, likelihood of local natural disasters, scale of potential industrial fires, and more – the savings can easily pay for the cost of a drone over time.
WHAT CONSIDERATIONS ARE THERE FOR IMPLEMENTING A DRONE PROGRAM?
It is important, if you’re going to have a drone program, to understand the legal, operational, safety and liability requirements, as well as the commitment to training, operational readiness, policies and procedures that will be necessary to succeed. Here are a few things to begin your considerations:
- Know local, state and national regulations as they pertain to drone usage.
- Check with your locality and/or department lawyer regarding legal requirements and liability concerns.
- Understand and develop a strategy to address potential privacy concerns.
- Learn about the different types of drones available & determine which type best meets your needs (price, GPS, size, video, capability, ease of use, etc.).
- Define situations where a drone will enhance operations.
- Reach out to local law enforcement to determine if they already have a drone and may want to develop a joint program.
- Determine how the drone will be maintained for operational readiness and by whom.
- Define policies and procedures for when, how and by whom the drone will be used.
- Develop a safety operational checklist that addresses every stage of operation.
- Develop a drone training/certification program that ensures operational and safety proficiency.
IS THERE LICENSING REQUIRED?
Licensing may be required, depending on the type of drone you’re using. Some details about some DFC-available options and their licensing requirements are below:
Fotokite, Tethered Drones
The Fotokite Sigma consists of the Ground Station and the Kite. A tablet or computer runs the Fotokite Live App which shows the real-time thermal and low-light video streams, giving teams actionable information throughout their mission safely and reliably; no piloting or special licensing necessary, which can be particularly useful for smaller departments that may not have the staffing available for a drone operator and spotter.
Drone Nerds, Piloted Drones
From aerial photography, to fire ground analysis, to accident scene awareness, inspection solutions and more – there is a drone model that is optimal for every application – including third-party payload support, enhanced range for large fire grounds, anti-jamming for fires near power lines or otherwise complex fire grounds. A fire department’s drone operator will need to get an FAA-issued license before they can use this type of drone to aid in firefighting.
