Mid-Island fire department 1st in region to use drones for emergencies
The Village of Errington, near Parksville, B.C., is the first community on the Mid and North Island to add drones to its fire department's toolkit.
The drones can use a spotlight or thermal imaging to help respond to emergencies.
"We use thermal cameras on fire scenes, handheld, all the time, but we can only see what we can see from the ground," said Lt. Mike Love of the Errington Fire Department.
"Having the drone in the air we can see what we couldn’t see before," he said.
The Errington Fire Department drone's thermal camera is shown. (CTV News)
The drones can also be used to get a closer look at dangerous situations, such as when electrical wires go down.
"With the drone I can fly right up to it, get within 10 feet away, zoom in," said Love.
"[With] thermal I can get the heat signatures off of it, temperature ratings transferring down the pole or lines, we can see it all with the drone," he said.
The fire department's deputy chief says the drones may be used to help find missing people as well, and can communicate with them through an onboard speaker.
"Having this tool would allow us to go down, we can talk to them, see what’s going on, we can use thermal imaging if we’re looking for them as well so there’s some advantages there," said deputy Chief George Klemm.
'COMMUNITY EFFORT'
The small island community put out a call to raise $10,000 for the main and secondary drones.
Some of the contributions came in through online fundraising, while a full 50 per cent was donated by Yates Memorial Services.
"It was a community effort," said Leanne Salter, Nanaimo District Area F director.
"It was the fire department who did all the work as volunteers, and the community donated towards the drone," she said.
The fire department is hoping to have at least six members trained and qualified to use the drone in the coming months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.