Excerpts from the Daily-journal.com:
A drone hovered in the air Monday as about 100 firefighters from Kankakee, Iroquois, and Will counties battled a brush fire in Pembroke Township.
William Neumann, the director of communications for the Orland Park Fire Protection District, lived streamed video footage from his drone to other departments through his personal Facebook page. It helped them track the fire, protect structures and, above all else, assure nobody got injured.
It was the first time the Pembroke Fire Protection District, a small department of nine volunteers, had an aerial view to assist them. Chief Mark Baines already has talked to village trustees about purchasing one, considering the department battles more than 100 brush fires per year and had a truck damaged in a brush fire last year.
“We were able to see exactly where the fire was going,” Baines said. “Our four guys who were out there felt safer and more confident knowing a drone was watching out for them. I’m all for getting one. They are beneficial.”
Orland Park’s department has three drones, and Neumann, who has his certificate of authorization, is training the department’s battalion chiefs. He said a drone typically costs between $1,000 and $6,000.
thanks Dan
