Firefighters continue to hone in on their drone flying capabilities with continued training provided by Fire and Rescue NSW.

Drones took to the sky last Wednesday night at Dangar Park as members of the Narrabri brigade participated in training for emergency procedures while operating at night.

The latest in drone technology was displayed by visiting Fire and Rescue officials from Sydney.

Narrabri is one of only 25 Fire and Rescue stations in NSW with drone flying capabilities. It is the only brigade within the region trained and ready to deploy drones to emergency situations.

Fire and Rescue NSW aviation technical operations officer Bryce Gilmore said drones were being used across most Fire and Rescue operations.

“They give us an eye in the sky,” he said. “It’s quite a good thermal tool.”

Mr Gilmore said the addition of drones to Fire and Rescue’s arsenal was a massive improvement for the service’s firefighting and rescue capabilities.

The drones typically fly up to 400-feet high, allowing a safe buffer between aircraft and drones.

Fire and Rescue NSW is leading the charge with the use of drones in emergency situations.

The newest drones have a speaker attachment and easily allow for communication during emergency incidents.

“It’s a powerful resource for us,” Mr Gilmore said.

For the local region, drones could be used as an additional tool during floods.

“They have livestreaming capabilities and emergency services can review footage in real-time,” Mr Gilmore said.

Specialised training is provided to firefighters for using drones in situations where the general public is prohibited to fly the cameras.

“We’ve had to go through a rigorous process with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to get our manual aligned with how they want us to fly,” Mr Gilmore said. “It’s about maximising safety in the air.”

Adding to the safety of every drone flying situation, the flight is reviewed by officials to ensure every flight is a safe flight.

“There is a process to follow,” Mr Gilmore said.

“To the station’s credit, they’ve taken it on board.”

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