MCLEAN, Va. — The CPSE Center for Innovation (CPSE CFI) has released a guide to help fire and emergency service agencies plan and launch drone as first responder (DFR) programs. The organization calls it the first comprehensive resource of its kind.
The 32-page Guide for the Effective and Ethical Implementation of Drone as First Responder Programs outlines 21 considerations for taking agencies from concept to operation. It covers:
- Program planning and needs assessment
- Technology selection and procurement
- Staffing, training and certification requirements
- Community engagement strategies
- Performance measurement and continuous improvement
“Fire and emergency service agencies are asking how to use drone technology responsibly, effectively, and in a way that earns community trust,” said Alex Fisher, director of CPSE CFI. “These resources give agencies a structured place to start, grounded in data, operational experience, and ethical considerations.”
CPSE CFI developed the guide with a task force of representatives from seven geographically diverse agencies accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The organization said many existing resources identify what agencies should consider but stop short of showing how to put those ideas into action. The guide aims to fill that gap with practical steps, decision points and implementation considerations agencies can adapt locally.
The guide builds on two earlier efforts. CPSE CFI’s July 2026 Strategic Scan on Drone as First Responder Programs found that many accredited agencies are using drones, often in partnership with police, and that footage is already improving situational awareness and response. CPSE CFI also worked with the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association on an Urban Fire Forum position paper, Support for the Effective and Ethical Use of Drones in First Response. The paper sets out a principle-based framework in four areas: program need and design, technology and operations, data, and engagement and trust.
Several task force departments will present on how they worked through the guide’s key considerations at CPSE’s Excellence Conference in March 2027.
