Wilmington Fire Department uses a drone for the first time at a fire scene

The Wilmington Fire Department is accustomed to battling flames from the ground, but they now have assistance from the sky.

Crews from the Wilmington Fire Department were called to a woodlands fire off 17th St. near Shipyard Blvd. earlier this week and deployed their drone for the first time.

Firefighters explained that it can be tough to comprehend and visualize the complete extent of a fire, such as the one-acre wildfire, since it covers such a large area and can move quickly.

The new drone enabled the department to completely envision the fire area and organize their firefighting efforts more effectively.

You could be thinking, “Who cares? There are plenty of fire departments out there that use drones in their day-to-day firefighting activities,” and you’d be correct.

However, speaking with various first responders at DJI Airworks recently regarding the usage of drones, it became clear that many fire and police agencies are still not employing drones to help save people’s lives. That is why bringing stories like this one to the public’s attention makes sense and is truly necessary.

Drones have never been more affordable or easier to fly, so if you’re a first responder and your department isn’t already using drone technology to save lives and keep your crew members safe, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

We’d be happy to put you in contact with folks in your area who can assist you with establishing a drone program.

Congrats to the Wilmington Fire Department for using drones during their firefighting activities.

Fly safe and stay safe!

Photos courtesy of the Wilmington Fire Department.