The Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service has purchased three drones that it hopes will help improve firefighting operations.
WNEW (http://cbsloc.al/1iitgrm) reports that the drones, a.k.a. Unmanned Aircraft Systems, will be used to assist firefighters on the ground in locating fire during structural firefighting, which can be especially helpful during high-rise fire situations. It’s also hoped that the technology will allow crews to get a better sense of a building’s structural stability and thereby avoid collapses. The machine will also be used in water rescue scenarios and various other incidents.
Connecticut Fire Department Employs Drone at Quarry Fire
The high-definition camera mounted on board is capable of sending still shots and video to crews on the ground. The device only weighs about two and a half pounds and is less than two feet in diameter. It uses a built-in WiFi system to connect to GPS satellites and can be operated by a smart phone or tablet plugged into a remote control.
Read more and see stills at http://cbsloc.al/1iitgrm.
