Massachusetts’ Lynn Fire Department has acquired a new DJI Matrice 30T thermal drone system, which will replace an older drone acquired by the department in 2018
The unmanned aircraft will be used to aid in searches for missing persons and surveying fires and can operate at heights of up to 400 feet (122 meters). Spraying Drones For Sale
The regular DJI Matrice 30 features a 48 megapixel zoom camera, a 12 megapixel wide-angle camera, a laser rangefinder which can give precise coordinates of objects up to 1,200 feet away. The 30T acquired by Lynn Fire Department also features an additional 640x512 pixel radiometric thermal camera.
“We're being innovative here in Lynn, and maybe other fire departments will follow our lead, and maybe someday in the future every department will have a drone, but for now, we're one of the first ones around to have it,” said District Chief Joseph Zukas.
“As these drones get cheaper in price with more capabilities, we're learning more and more things that we can do with it. This new equipment, new technology, will help the citizens of Lynn, the taxpayers' safety. I'm hoping we have no emergencies, but if we have an emergency and we can use this to help mitigate it, that's great,” he added.
The department funded the acquisition of its original drone through donations from the Knights of Columbus, real estate developer Patrick McGrath, as well as a third, anonymous donor. The new drone was acquired through a trade-in for the original drone, as well as additional allocated funds from the department.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority also granted approval for the use of drones by firefighters in Dubai in May 2022.