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Unmanned Aircraft Systems more commonly known as drones have been showing their capabilities in the fire service over the past couple of years. Their potential for assisting firefighters with their mission while reducing their exposure and improving their capabilities.

 

Some of the areas that drones have improved firefighters capabilities are:

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• An overhead view of an incident feeding real-time information into the command post

• Drones have help firefighters see the spread of a wildfire

• Provide size up information to the incident commander

• Quickly survey areas after a natural disaster

• Utilize thermal imagers to look for hot spots in a fire

• Utilize thermal imagers to track personnel and civilians during an incident

• Deliver equipment and tools during natural disasters

• Investigate HAZMAT situations

• Help departments create preplans

• Provide video documentation for investigations. ​