VIDEO: The Lexington Fire Department has launched drones dozens of times this year to increase safety and improve decision-making at emergency scenes. The department purchased two drones with a state grant at the beginning of this year. The aircraft are equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, lights, and speakers to help firefighters assess dangerous situations from above.
Battalion Chief Chris Warren said the aircraft helps crews get eyes on all sides of a burning structure, and the thermal cameras identify heat currents invisible to the naked eye. “The incident commander can make better decisions of positioning people in the house to stop the spread of fire, where we normally had no idea, other than reading the smoke,” said Warren.
Drone pilots only respond when requested and must be licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration. Warren said they try to stand close to the incident commander at a scene to relay any information identified through the drone on the small screen in the pilot’s hands.