JFD Interim Fire Chief Keith Powers said the need for drones became clear to the fire department after getting help from a private drone operator in the search for a missing child last year. The department then acquired several drones of its own in September 2018. Since then, the department has received authorization from the FAA to operate anywhere within 45 nautical miles of Jacksonville, though there are some exceptions.
"The use of drones has dramatically improved the safety of first responders by providing real-time information to incident commanders who must make split-second decisions," Powers said. "In addition, this program has greatly enhanced JFRD's ability to fulfill our core mission, and that is saving the lives and property of the citizens that we serve."