VIDEO: Henderson Fire Department is using drone technology to get closer to fires and save lives. “It’s a tethered drone so you don’t need a pilot’s license to operate it. It’s actually operated and controlled on top of the rig here,” said Battalion Chief Brandon Rants. The drone can be deployed within 15 seconds and provides real-time video to help incident commanders manage emergencies, Rants said.
Henderson Fire set up a live burn for FOX5 to demonstrate the drone’s capabilities. The drone reaches up to 150 feet in the air and can spot victims using thermal imaging. “You can see the outline of the firefighters so a victim in a fire would look very similar,” Rants said. The drone got its biggest test in January during the deadly brush fire at Whitney Mesa Recreation Area. One person died in that fire. “We have over 300 miles of trails in Henderson. We have a lot of search and rescue calls, so we can pick up heat signatures of bodies. So it’s very useful in those types of incidents as well,” Rants said.