Drones To Become Eyes in the Sky For Valley Firefighters

DERBY – Three Valley fire departments will soon have “eyes in the sky” to aid in their firefighting and rescue efforts.

That’s thanks to a $26,000 grant Derby Storm Ambulance & Rescue has secured, courtesy of the Valley Community Foundation.

The grant will enable a cutting-edge drone program to be implemented in Derby, Ansonia and Shelton, according to Storms’ Chief Thomas Lenart, with each town getting their own drone.

The drones will be used to assist in a variety of operations, including search and rescue missions, disaster response, traffic accident reconstruction, fire scene analysis, hazardous materials and real-time situational awareness during emergency incidents, according to Lenart.

“We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to bring innovative technology to our public safety operations,” said Lenart. “Drones give us eyes in the sky when we need them most, helping us protect our community more effectively and efficiently.”

Lenart, who has been involved with Storms for more than 50 years, said he could never have imagined using drones in his line of work. But now with drones becoming more affordable, Lenart is excited to embrace the modern age.

“It’s technology making our jobs easier,” Lenart said. “It’s a new tool we’re going to put in our toolbox, and we know it’s going to work and get put to good use.”

Lenart said in recalling past emergency incidents, having use of a drone would have benefitted in all kinds of situations.

“There’s so many situations where drones could’ve helped,” Lenart said. “With any structure fire you will have that 360-degree view of the building from above and will help a lot as far as seeing what’s going on. It will help with people lost in the water and people lost or injured at parks.”

Lenart said the drones will be equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging and live-streaming capabilities to capture what’s happening in real-time emergencies.

Lenart said Storms already has three members federally licensed in drone operations, which will enable Derby to launch its program in September.

Lenart said another two or three of Storms’ members will be trained and licensed, as well.

Ansonia and Shelton fire departments will likely come onboard with their drones by the end of the year, Lenart said, upon completion of training and licensing of their members.

“The Storm Ambulance & Rescue expects to have the program operational by September in Derby and December in Shelton and Ansonia,” Lenart said. “The group will continue to seek additional funding and partnerships to expand drone capabilities for the Valley communities in the years ahead. Our thanks go to Shelton Chief Fran Jones and Ansonia Deputy Chief Anthony DeLucia for their cooperation and desire to partner with us.”

DeLucia said he was grateful to Lenart for spearheading efforts for the drone technology and the VCF for funding it.

“Tom spearheaded it, and we were onboard for support,” DeLucia said. “The biggest thing is all our departments are working together on this. Money is tight everywhere and the more we can lean on each other the better off we are in protecting the people in our towns.”

DeLucia said having a drone would’ve come in handy during last year’s massive fire at part of the vacant Ansonia Copper & Brass complex on Liberty Street, which roared out of windows and collapsed a roof.

“A drone would have been a great addition at the Copper & Brass fire. We could have thrown it up to check all areas of the building to help see where the fire was spreading and just get a better look at everything that was happening” DeLucia said.