Chelsea Fire Department receives drone grant
The Chelsea Fire Department recently implemented new technology that will assist it in a variety of ways.
The department received a grant from the National Public Safety Drone Donation Program, whose motto is “Eyes in the Sky for Every Department in Need.”
Done through a nationwide program through Airborne Works, departments can apply for the grant, and those selected will receive a drone valued at about $1,700.
The new drone was donated by manufacturer Autel Robotics to the NPS-DDP.org foundation.
Lt. Stephen Gunnels said this is the department’s first drone, and it is looking at getting a FLIR thermal imaging camera attachment for it as well.
“Once we were awarded the donation grant, we started going over what we could use it for,” Gunnels said. “We have already used it for photography for a fire investigation. We flew it above the house and saw where the concentration of where the fire was.”
Gunnels said other ways the department can use the drone include searching for missing people, flying it over buildings or homes to see heat signatures and taking photos for investigation purposes.
The department runs a lot of calls for brush fires on the railroad tracks in the city. After vegetation dries out and it gets hot, train wheels can throw sparks that starts fires along the tracks. The drone will also help in those situations.
“We can fly the drone down the track and see where the fire is without having to try to walk around and find other ways to get to it,” he said.
Once the department was awarded the grant, it was about a month before the drone was delivered. During that time, Gunnels took an online course and an exam to become licensed.
As of press time, Gunnels was the only pilot licensed to fly the drone. However, he is in the process of developing a standard training procedure and working on a training curriculum so that others can become certified.
The drone has a GPS, and Gunnels said it can be flown in a grid during a search. The batteries last about 30 minutes in normal conditions. The department has three batteries, so that is enough for continuous use, as they only take 30 minutes to recharge.
Also, a lighting kit was provided from Foxfurry Lighting Solutions for night operations.
Gunnels said the drone controller has a high definition screen with a built-in controller, and he also has an app on his phone that allows him to record live video and take photos. The photos will also include GPS coordinates for where the photos are taken.
“You can fly up to a mile and a half from the actual controller, and the [Federal Aviation Administration] limits you to 400 feet in typical situations,” Gunnels said. “That is plenty for what we’re doing.”
To learn more about the foundation or make a donation, visit NPS-DDP.org