Accurate information, and getting it quickly, is essential for emergency first responders. The Spokane Fire Department is working to bolster both with its new drone program.
Nearly a year after Spokane City Council gave the OK for the city's fire department to use the unmanned aircraft, the program is getting off the ground.
The fire department already has three drones that cost about $1,150 each, and is waiting for a fourth, which comes with a $9,000 price tag, says Lt. Todd Powell, the drone program manager.
Altogether, the department has spent $27,898.27 on drones, cameras, batteries and other accessories, according to city spokesman Brian Coddington.