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Orland FPD uses drone at fire scene
Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
Firefighters from the Orland Fire Protection District recently got their first real-world test of a drone in action while tackling a house fire that may have been sparked by lightning early Wednesday morning. The homeowners were away, and it was the neighbors who sounded the alarm around 2:45 a.m. when they noticed smoke rising from a residence on West Scarlet Drive in Orland Park, according to Battalion Chief Bill Bonnar. By the time the fire crews arrived, the blaze had already spread extensively through the home's attic and roof—a sprawling 5,000-square-foot structure. Fortunately, there were no injuries, though the damage was severe.
It took the firefighters approximately an hour to bring the flames under control. In addition to the usual firefighting gear, they also deployed a drone—a piece of technology they've been testing for roughly two months now, as mentioned by Battalion Chief Mike Schofield. This marked the first live trial of the drone in action.
"Even though it's still fairly new, I think you're going to see this technology used quite a bit more in firefighting down the line," said Schofield. "It gives us an overhead perspective of how the fire is spreading, allowing us to direct water precisely where it's needed most."
Bonnar noted that drones have been promoted for firefighting uses for a couple of years now, but previously they were bulky, heavy, and costly. "The cost and technology have definitely improved," he remarked.
When Chief Neumann arrived at the scene early Wednesday, he quickly flew the drone in a full circle around the burning building before joining the battalion chief in his vehicle. Using an iPad mounted on the remote control, they were able to view the drone footage together, offering Neumann a comprehensive bird's-eye view of the unfolding situation. Neumann estimated that he's already logged about 80 hours of flight time with the drone, mostly during practice sessions or simulated fires at their training facility.
Despite being a pilot project, Schofield described the drone's performance during the actual fire as highly successful. It provided the fire department with a clear view from above and behind the house, enabling them to better understand the fire's origin and respond more effectively.
As for regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration mandates that public entities like police departments and fire districts must secure an authorization certificate to operate drones, although they don't keep tabs on exactly how many organizations have obtained these permits, according to spokesperson Elizabeth Cory.
Neumann mentioned that the Orland Fire Protection District hasn't yet applied for FAA clearance but is currently discussing the process with Naperville, which recently submitted an application to use drones.
"This is a tool that's going to become increasingly common in the fire service moving forward," concluded Schofield.
Thanks to everyone involved—Chris, Dan, and Martin—for your contributions to making this possible.