Compared with other public safety entities, the fire service, as a whole, has been much slower to embrace the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often referred to as drones. As our profession is one that is generally skeptical of change, this is probably not surprising to some.
However, a drone program can bring numerous benefits to fire department operations if drones are appropriately integrated. This article offers high-level considerations for fire chiefs considering a drone program, and it identifies a few of the main components that a chief should consider as part of the development process.
DOES IT SUPPORT THE MISSION?
As with many other projects, the first question to ask is: How does this support our department’s mission? Assuming that most fire departments have missions related to protecting lives and property, reducing risk, and building community resiliency, can drones aid in meeting the mission? Typically, the answer to this question is yes. There are several examples of successful fire department drone programs out there, so we can be confident that there is value to drone usage in the fire service. Cost vs. benefit will likely be a more significant concern.
OBJECTIVES OF THE DRONE PROGRAM
When creating a drone program, the chief needs to determine the program’s objectives. Drones have a variety of applications and capabilities. They can assist in scene surveys and can be deployed to provide a rapid 360º size-up of a fire scene. They can assist the incident commander (IC) with monitoring areas outside of the line of sight and provide valuable footage of roof operations or victim locations. Thermal imaging cameras (TICs) can assist in cutting through smoke to identify where fire and heat still exist. During hazardous materials incidents, drones can locate and identify hazardous substances. They can assist in monitoring the atmosphere. Drones are also helpful in rescue operations. They have been used to search large areas; TICs or night vision cameras are especially helpful during evening hours.
They can be rapidly deployed to transportation emergencies such as train derailments or car pileups on the highway. They can provide the IC with the location and condition of a victim, which can help determine the resources required. Drones can also be very useful during disasters. They can rapidly collect damage assessment information and can provide video of various evacuation routes. Some drones can even provide voice warnings to citizens within their area. In wildland firefighting, drones can assist in searching for smoke, determining fire movement, track firefighting crews, and monitor progress. Drones can be useful during special events to monitor egress routes or locate a patient.
Another important benefit of drones related to all of these examples is their ability to record video for training, after-action reports, or documentation purposes. Understanding how your department is likely to use drones is an important part of the project management process, as all decisions moving forward will have to bear in mind these anticipated uses.
GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE INVOLVED
Let’s face it, chiefs today are busy. Effectively managing a drone program has many complex aspects to it. Form a team of stakeholders and program champions to create a comprehensive drone program. The chief will want to make sure there is support from elected officials and anticipate any potential political concerns or issues. It is important to assign people to this team who are interested in drones and are detail-oriented because of compliance requirements. Some recommendations for people to assign include fire officers who function as ICs for their perspective on what information is useful, attorneys to provide assistance with policy development and compliance, budget personnel who will be responsible for purchasing the drone and ongoing costs, those who will be using the drones, emergency management coordinators, and community stakeholders.
UNDERSTAND DRONE REGULATIONS AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Some fire departments opt to hire Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified drone pilots to conduct operations for them, while others choose to certify their own members. Regardless, fire service drones must comply with many federal and state regulations and local ordinances. It is important to work with a community’s legal counsel and appropriate officials to ensure compliance. If your department chooses to handle drone operations in house, there are two options for operating drones. The first is to designate a member of your team to earn FAA drone pilot certificates and fly under the rules for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) 14 CFR part 107, which allows for drones under 55 pounds at or below 400 feet from ground level. The second option requires receiving a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the FAA. This option allows your organization to self-certify drone operators for flight to function as “public aircraft operators” who can self-certify the drone and drone pilots. Which path you decide to take your organization will depend on your program’s objectives.
Along with pilot compliance with and certification to FAA regulations, the chief must also understand the training requirements—first, the initial costs of training your pilots, and second, the continual costs as members cycle in and out of the program. Also keep in mind that without frequent use and flight times, skills diminish and can make the drone less efficient and potentially dangerous. This continual training can impact the personnel budget.
DETERMINE DRONE MODEL AND TYPE
If you have decided that a drone program is a good addition to your department, be sure that the drone purchased meets the objectives of your program. There are many manufacturers and hundreds of drone models out there, each having various capabilities. It is important that your team does a substantial amount of research on each model and compare them against the goals and objectives of your program. There are many capabilities, but keep in mind that you have a maximum weight limit. Various capabilities include TICs, video cameras, and air monitoring equipment. In addition to determining the model that will work best for your department, keep in mind all of the ancillary equipment, hardware, and software required to maintain functionality. Ancillary equipment includes batteries, flight control equipment, flight software, chargers, and storage.
DETERMINE THE BUDGET
While drones have definitely become more affordable, they have also evolved and expanded in capabilities. It is not very difficult to rapidly expand a projected budget with add-ons, warranties, repair contracts, and training. It is important that fire chiefs have a comprehensive understanding of all costs related to the program. Common costs include the drone, replacement drones, batteries and bank chargers, replacement parts or service plans, control equipment, video equipment, data recording programs, various types of payloads, training courses, personnel costs, and software. While the purchase of a drone may seem reasonable enough, costs can add up quickly.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
It is important for chiefs to have clearly defined policies and procedures for drone use. The objectives of the drone program should be clear, and specific procedures should be in accordance with FAA regulations, state laws, and local ordinances. Specify the certifications or training required for a member to operate a drone. How your department intends to use the drone will dictate many of the other protocols. In addition to the FAA requirements, it is also extremely important to reference privacy laws to ensure compliance. The use of drones already raises eyebrows because of privacy concerns with the public. Ensuring using a drone doesn’t violate privacy laws and protections is paramount to maintaining support for your department’s program.
ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES
It goes without saying that any time a fire chief implements a new program, there will be challenges along the way. A drone program can be sent off the rails because of privacy concerns from those uninformed about protections in place. The chief must anticipate questions about privacy issues and have prepared answers to those concerns. Another question to be prepared for is the related cost vs. benefit. Be prepared to defend the anticipated cost by providing a comprehensive list of benefits. Furthermore, have identified data points that you can measure to ensure the department is realizing those benefits.
All in all, drones can be very effective tools in a fire department’s arsenal. To ensure success, fire chiefs must develop a program that contributes to meeting the department’s mission, demonstrates an acceptable cost/benefit ratio, and complies with applicable regulations.
JOSEPH MURRAY, Ph.D., is chief and emergency management coordinator for the Dearborn (MI) Fire Department.
