VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fire Department gave News 3 an up-close look at a versatile tool crews use to respond to missions more efficiently: drones.
VBFD's John McMahon says since launching the Unmanned Aircraft System program in 2018, the department has found multiple ways to use them when responding to fires. Their heat-detecting capabilities help crews locate people stuck in structures, they can help medicate fires, and they're able to drop tools to crews, including rescue sticks, rope or meters for hazmat.
The drones have also helped in situations that don't involve active fires, including missing persons cases and boat accidents.
McMahon says having crews on the ground and eyes in the sky simultaneously has proven to be very beneficial. He says the department's goal is to eventually have a drone on scene before crews arrive — which they've already done a few times.
