VIDEO: The North Las Vegas Fire Department is using eyes in the sky to respond to fires. After noticing a NLVFD drone flying above the scene of the massive construction site fire last week, FOX5 is speaking with one of the department’s drone operators about how they’re used throughout the city. NLVFD Captain Aric Seal says drones help responding crews see the full fire faster. “Usually, we’ll send crews around the building and then they give us information as to what’s on the other side. So, instead of trying to paint a picture with words, we now have video to be able to see that picture,” Seal says.
The drones are equipped with two controllers. Each one has a screen that displays what the drone’s camera is capturing in real time. Seal says one controller will be in the hand of the operator, and the other will be in the hand of the battalion chief, who is the commander in charge of the scene. “Then that way they can just tell me, ‘Hey, I need to look at here,’ or ‘I need eyes over here,’” Seal explains. The drones are also equipped with thermal imaging. Seal says this allows operators to check if the fire is spreading to surrounding structures, or to look for people trapped inside.
