CT Fire Department Receives Drone Donation

WEST HAVEN, CT—Residents gained another layer of police and fire protection recently, as the West Haven Fire Department received donation of a state-of-the-art drone to be shared among the city's three fire stations and Police Department.

Propel UAS, a division of Evan Consulting, and the National Public Safety Drone Donation Program partnered to provide free drones to departments in need, and the West Haven Fire Department submitted a successful proposal.

Center Fire Station Chief James P. O'Brien said the technology advances rapidly and it's a "tremendous tool" for fire service and police.

"We see the potential," and have a good foundation after working with late Orange Fire Marshal Tim Smith, who spearheaded a program a few years ago for his and other area departments, he said.

O'Brien said drones are helpful along the shoreline for search and rescue, for documenting the shoreline before and after storms (for the Federal Emergency Management Agency), searching for missing persons in the woods, and for flying into areas after fires that would be dangerous to a firefighter.

He said while the donated drone is state-of-the-art, it will need add-on components such as thermal imaging and night vision cameras, and they are looking for funding through grants and other means.

The department has been training with a drone and has a Licensed FAA Part107 drone pilot on staff to fly the drone, according to a press release.

Propel UAS donated the new Autel EVOII drone. Propel UAS has more than 20 years of expertise in aviation and drones, the release said, and the company teamed up with NPS-DDP to offer grant writing assistance to departments in need.

"This technology will help save lives and streamline deployment and provide fast real-time situational awareness for the department," the release said.

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