Noblesville Fire Department adds drone to fleet

The Noblesville Fire Department (NFD) has added an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its fleet. Commonly referred to as a drone, the drone provides firefighters with information previously difficult or impossible to obtain.

The drone is capable of flight times in excess of 40 minutes per battery (continuous operations by changing batteries), a maximum speed in excess of 51 mph, the ability to fly in wind speeds in excess of 33 mph, and operating between -4 and 122 degrees F. The drone is IP55 rated, so it can fly in most Indiana weather conditions, including rain, snow, and fog.

The drone records videos up to 4K from three cameras: wide angle, 200x zoom and thermal (infrared). Depending on the mission, the drone may also be equipped with a speaker, searchlight, or drop system capable of delivering various objects in an emergency (such as a flotation device).

The pilots all hold FAA Remote Pilot (“Part 107”) licenses. The drone can be used to provide information on large structures before an incident, quickly identifying the location of a fire from above, in search and rescue, structural collapse, water rescue, HAZMAT , fire investigation and technical rescue. Not only is this information available to the on-scene incident commander, but it can also be transmitted to an off-site command post to provide more complete situational awareness within seconds of arrival.

The drone will act as a force multiplier for firefighters, allowing them to quickly make more informed decisions to serve our community while increasing firefighter safety. Previously, Hamilton County fire departments have partnered with their police departments or emergency management agency for aerial support.

NFD is grateful to be the first fire department in Hamilton County to organically have a drone, especially with the technology and safety it will bring to the community. The drone program provides an extremely cost-effective way to provide resources previously limited to America's largest cities.