DEPARTMENT: Office of Innovation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Brian Dillard, Chief Innovation Officer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the San Antonio Fire Department Drone Program
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this item is to provide the Innovation and Technology Committee with an overview of the San Antonio Fire Department drone program and its intended use to support fire ground operations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) has been in development and implementation of a drone Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program for nearly two years that serves advanced needs arising during various emergency responses. Some, but not all, of the capabilities drones provide the SAFD are; locating victims during wide area search and rescue, providing an overview during large wild land fires, locating potential hazardous chemical leaks without the need for sending firefighters downrange, and locating fires or hot spots in large commercial buildings. SAFD is in possession of 2 DJI Inspire 1 aircraft, 1 HD camera, 1 zoom capable HD camera, and 1 FLIR infrared camera. The SAFD plans to grow the program to include additional FAA licensed pilots, in order to supplement response capability.
ISSUE:
The purpose of this item is to provide the Innovation and Technology Committee with an overview of the San Antonio Fire Department Drone Program.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.