The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS) has enhanced its Special Operations fleet with the addition of three new drones capable of streaming footage from hazardous indoor environments.
These drones, tested by the DFS throughout the year and procured this fall, enable personnel to gather real-time information from inside buildings during hazardous material incidents, structural collapses, and other high-risk situations.
“Drones were a giant step forward for situational awareness in the fire service,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “Up until now, we’ve used them primarily to provide aerial footage from outside a structure or above a large wildfire or search area.”
The drones were demonstrated to DFS Hazmat technicians, State Police fire investigators, bomb technicians, and senior leadership at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy before the new program was announced publicly. They were also utilized during the Massachusetts Association of Technical Rescue Specialists’ 2025 Tech Rescue Challenge onboard the USS Massachusetts.