For years, drones in the fire service were often viewed primarily as flying cameras — useful for capturing an overhead image of an incident but limited in their ability to influence operations.
That perception is changing quickly.
Today’s drones can provide thermal imaging, transmit live video to incident commanders, map the growth of a wildland fire and deliver emergency equipment to people who may be difficult to reach. Drone as First Responder, or DFR, programs are taking those capabilities a step further by dispatching remotely operated aircraft directly to calls, often before the first engine or truck arrives.
For fire departments, the value lies not simply in seeing an incident from above. It lies in giving responders more time and better information to make decisions about tactics, staffing and safety.
Phil Brown, fire and EMS account executive for BRINC and a former firefighter-paramedic, began flying drones in the fire service in 2020 while helping develop a program for the West Covina Fire Department in Southern California.
“Tactically, it’s huge in the fire service,” Brown said. “Getting your officers and your supervisors the opportunity to see the incident from above is huge.”
Improving the initial size-up
A traditional structure fire size-up begins as the first-arriving company officer pulls up to the scene. In a matter of seconds, that officer must evaluate the building, visible fire and smoke conditions, potential life hazards and resource needs before communicating an initial report.
A DFR program can begin building that picture while crews are still en route.
A drone dispatched from a fixed location may reach the scene minutes before the first apparatus. Live video can help officers determine whether they are facing a working fire, a minor incident or a rapidly escalating event that will require additional alarms.
“With a DFR program where a drone is responding from a set location, that two or three seconds [an officer has for size-up] now turns into a minute, two minutes, three minutes — whatever it might be, depending on where units are responding from,” Brown said.
That added decision-making time can help an agency request additional engines, trucks or specialized resources earlier. It may also allow commanders to reduce an unnecessary response when the aerial view shows that an incident is less serious than initially reported.
The benefits continue after crews arrive. A drone equipped with a thermal camera can identify heat concentrations in a roof, attic or concealed area. For firefighters assigned to ventilation, that information may help them recognize sections of a roof that have been weakened by fire before they step into a dangerous position.
Rather than replacing established roof-safety practices, the aerial thermal image adds another layer of information for the incident commander and crews operating above the fire.
Seeing beyond the ridgeline
Drones can be especially valuable during wildland and wildland-urban interface incidents, where terrain, smoke and distance can prevent crews from seeing how a fire is developing.
A firefighter working in a canyon may have no direct view of fire advancing on the other side of a ridge. A drone can move above the smoke and terrain to show flame spread, approaching hazards and conditions around crews.
It can also help identify unstable trees, rocks or other threats that may not be visible from the ground.
“Having that situational awareness is going to keep a lot of firefighters safe in those situations, just because they know what’s going on in other areas, not just directly in front of them,” Brown said.
For smaller departments without access to helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft, drones can provide an aerial perspective at a more accessible scale. Mapping software can calculate acreage, document a fire’s perimeter and show how the incident changes over time. Thermal imaging and hotspot detection can also support overhaul and mop-up by helping crews determine where heat remains after visible flames have been extinguished.
That information can help incident commanders decide whether crews must remain on scene or whether resources can safely return to service.
The growing wildland-urban interface also means firefighters who do not routinely respond to vegetation fires in their home jurisdictions may still encounter them through mutual-aid or strike-team deployments. A drone program can therefore support both local operations and regional response.
Extending drone use beyond fires
The operational value of drones is not limited to structure and wildland incidents.
During a serious traffic collision, an early aerial view may show a patient is trapped inside a vehicle. That information can prompt the department to dispatch a truck carrying hydraulic rescue tools before the first engine confirms the need on scene.
Drones may also support hazardous-materials responses by giving responders a view of the scene before personnel enter a potentially contaminated area. As sensor and payload integrations advance, unmanned aircraft may be able to assist with air monitoring and other forms of remote assessment.
Additional applications include:
- Search and rescue operations in large or difficult terrain.
- Post-incident inspections of damaged buildings and infrastructure.
- Fire-prevention inspections and brush-clearance documentation.
- Aerial photography for fire investigation and arson cases.
- Delivery of medical equipment and medications.
BRINC’s newest drone, Guardian, can be configured to carry items such as naloxone, epinephrine auto-injectors, automated external defibrillators and flotation devices. A drone could deliver a flotation device to a person in the water or bring an AED closer to a patient before rescuers can reach a remote location.
These applications illustrate a broader shift: The drone is becoming an active response resource rather than simply an observation platform.
Sharing the view across the incident
Aerial intelligence is most useful when it reaches people making decisions.
Drone management platforms can allow authorized personnel to view live video on a phone, tablet or computer. BRINC’s LiveOps software, for example, can distribute a viewing link by text message or email or through a QR code. That makes it possible to share the feed with command staff, field supervisors, mutual-aid partners or emergency managers.
Motorola Solutions’ CAPE drone software similarly supports centralized drone operations and live-streaming workflows, providing remote piloting capabilities and helping agencies incorporate aerial video into a wider public safety technology ecosystem.
That wider technology ecosystem includes Motorola Solutions’ CommandCentral Aware, which unifies aerial and ground intelligence into a single operational pane that can be shared with law enforcement, emergency management and neighboring agencies. This common operating picture improves coordination and reduces dependence on fragmented communications and disparate systems.
A broader role in emergency response
The expansion of drone use in the fire service reflects a shift from seeing the technology as an aerial camera to viewing it as an operational resource. Whether a drone is helping size up a structure fire, tracking a wildland fire’s progression, locating a missing person or delivering emergency equipment, its value comes from getting useful information or assistance to the scene faster.
For departments considering a DFR program, the starting point should be the challenges responders face in their own communities. A smaller agency may need an affordable aerial view during brush fires. An urban department may prioritize structure fire intelligence, traffic collision response or hazardous-materials assessment. Other departments may benefit from sharing drone resources with law enforcement or neighboring fire agencies.
Brown encourages fire service leaders who have not seen a drone used during an incident to learn how the technology is already supporting operations.
“I think a lot of agencies, mine included, before I got into it, thought, ‘This drone is just going to fly up and give you a video of the incident,’” he said. “The drone and DFR program has grown so much, and there are so many benefits to firefighter safety.”
Drones will not replace firefighters, company officers or sound incident command. They can, however, help responders see hazards sooner, deploy resources more effectively and make informed decisions without first placing personnel in harm’s way.
As the technology continues to develop, that added perspective could become an increasingly valuable part of how fire departments protect both their members and the communities they serve.
For more information, visit Motorola Solutions.
