In a fantastic new program that could save hundreds of lives in the coming years a fire department from Wayne Township, Indianapolis has started a drone program!

The goal is to get live eyes on the fire and see what is happening in real time from a vantage point not previously economical. While they did not state the drones that they purchased you can see that one of the two is a DJI Phantom.

This project has yet to prove its worth but with a minimal investment of $10,000 the department has purchased two drones for use and trained eight different fire fighters how to use them. The fire fighters went through a week long training course to stress safety above all else. This is a brave new frontier we are beginning to cross in the world of drones where these every day toys consumers play with are now beginning to be used in dangerous, life threatening situations. This speaks wonders to the quality of the consumer grade products available today. Imagine a $1200 drone going into the most dangerous of areas, saving lives AND taxpayer money at the same time.

Before you go off with your new DJI Phantom and try to help out let me say two things. First be aware that this is not some people grabbing a drone and flying around a fire, these are professionally trained individuals working in the most strictly observed situations with the best training they can have for the job. Second, DON’T DO IT! Leave this job to the professionals and don’t risk your own safety or your new drone we would hate to see it get damaged!

What do you think?
Would you like to see more drones used in these ways?
Will drones soon replace helicopters in the police department again taking lives out of harms way and saving taxpayer money?
I want to hear your opinions below!

Original Article here