At the Feb. 4 Coos Bay City Council meeting, the council approved the acceptance of a State Homeland Security grant for the purchase of two drones to be used by Coos Bay and North Bend police and fire.
The grant for $10,700 will cover the cost of two drones and training for nine Coos Bay and North Bend police officers and firefighters to be trained as pilots.
Drones can provide real-time aerial images and video in high definition resolution. The small unmanned aircraft also provide thermal imaging to see through smoke, fog and darkness.
This new technology will provide a perspective that helps firefighters and law enforcement officers better understand the scope of an incident and develop an informed operations plan, according to the city.