UK’s Surrey Fire and Rescue Service buys drones to aid emergencies

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said it spent £55,000 on five new drones to keep communities safe as an “essential tool in fire safety”, according to Surrey News.

The drones are equipped with the latest technology including high-resolution imagery, thermal imaging, and the ability to live-stream footage directly to the control center.

Specially trained fire investigation officers at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service first put drones into action in 2018 as part of a joint project with Surrey and Sussex Police. Early to trial the technology, the service has now integrated drones as a key tool for fire safety.

Since 2018, the Service has used drones for emergencies, such as flooding, hazmat incidents, wildfires, and missing persons investigations.

Dave Nolan, Area Commander for Operational Response at the Service, said: “Drones play a pivotal part in how we manage incidents, with specialist capabilities to save lives, find casualties quickly, and reduce risks to our crews too.

“The new drones will provide incident commanders with the information they need to make rapid and informed decisions to reduce fire risks and other emergencies like never before.”

In October last year, the US Atlantic City Fire Department (ACFD) announced that they will demonstrate how drones can be used by lifeguards to protect swimmers on beaches in Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore.