Auburn City Fire Department acquire drone
The fire department of the city of Auburn, California, has acquired a new DJI Matrice 30T drone
The drone is equipped with an infrared camera, enabling it to identify and map out hotspots in wildfires and structural fires, as well as identify lost individuals during search and rescue (SAR) operations.
The aircraft cost $18,500, and costs were split between the department and a donation from the local Auburn Hook and Ladder Company.
Auburn City Fire Department has reportedly had the drone for approximately two months, and is currently working to ‘create policies and procedures for the new technology’, according to local news outlet Gold Country Media.
The department currently has two licensed drone pilots – Firefighter Buck Sims, and Fire Engineer Alex Lawton.
The UK-based Ulverston Inshore Rescue (UIR) also recently acquired a Matrice M30T drone to assist its SAR operations in Morecambe Bay.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.