Published on February 08, 2017
PRESS RELEASE – February 7, 2017
Menlo Park Fire Protection District – San Francisco Bay Area
Menlo Park Firefighters Keep an “Eye in the Sky” on San Francisquito Creek using UAS/Drones
Captains Tony Eggimann and Chris Dennebaum on Patrol 77 kept a close eye on San Francisquito Creek today as it flirted with flood stage at the creeks West Bayshore underpass at Highway 101 in the City of East Palo Alto. The two are founding members of the Fire Districts UAS/Drone Program (Unmanned Aerial Systems).
 |
 |
|---|
In recent weeks, the UAS/Drone pilots have been flying a variety of interesting and challenging missions. From a water rescue response on the San Francisco Bay two weeks ago to a transitional multi-day search and recovery mission in the South Bay last week searching for a missing Kayaker. Those missions have required responsibly coordinating and flying in a busy and heavily restricted air space from various points on the shoreline to mobility on Bay waters and mud, from the Fire District’s Air Boat.
Last week the Fire District used one of its UAS/Drones to capture aerial photographs of traffic congestion at the Willow Road/Highway 101 interchange. “A picture is worth a thousand words” Fire Chief Schapelhouman said. Traffic congestion regularly creates emergency response challenges and delays for first responders and the Fire District hopes to be able to very shortly use UAS/Drones from an aerial port, like a Fire Station, to fly out in advance of ground assets, like fire apparatus, to quickly give responders and command staff a greater level of situational awareness to better help manage emergencies from traffic accidents, fires, water rescues or floods to name a few.
“We have four DJI Drone Platforms now, from small to larger craft with sophisticated infrared camera’s that can detect thermal signatures needed for fires. We are currently carrying the Drone on our Battalion Command Vehicle but our next goal is to carry them on a variety of first response units and eventually move toward an aerial port concept that also supports autonomy” Chief Schapelhouman said.
