Members of the Humboldt Fire Department, RCMP, and Ambulance Services unveil their new military grade drone to assist in search and rescues. (Facebook/Humboldt Fire Department)

By Aaron Schulze

Humboldt Emergency Drone

Humboldt emergency agencies purchase military grade drone

Aug 28, 2019 | 4:59 PM

A watchful eye from above will be looking over Humboldt and area.

Humboldt and District Ambulance, Humboldt RCMP, and the Humboldt Fire Department announced they jointly purchased a DJI Matrice 210 Enterprise Drone with reserves from previous fundraising.

Humboldt Fire Chief Mike Kwasnica said conversations between the fire department and other emergency services staff regarding the purchase of a drone have been ongoing for nearly two years.

“Search and rescue is one of the big items we did talk around that this drone would be a good asset to have,” Kwasnica said. “Having thermal imaging capabilities on it is something we wanted. We’ll be able to fly it in weather that’s not the greatest, because we’re generally not out when it’s nice out with beautiful, sunny weather. It’s a military grade drone that’s able to fly in wind, rain, and at night.”

The DJI Matrice 210 Enterprise drone can fly through rainy and windy weather, and has thermal imaging capabilities to assist in search and rescue. (Facebook/Humboldt Fire Department)

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While Kwasnica said emergency services within the City of Humboldt raise money for different initiatives and organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and local sports teams, they also save some money for themselves to purchase equipment they normally wouldn’t have space for in the budget.

The drone is ready to fly and members from all three emergency services partners hope to fly it sooner rather than later.

“It’s registered through Transport Canada,” Kwasnica said. “We do have trained pilots that are listed for flying this drone and we’re expanding our pilot base within our fire department, [ambulance], and RCMP, but right now we’re using the drone club in Humboldt as part of our pilot database that we need.”

Kwasnica said they have enough pilots interested in flying the drone, but the Humboldt Fire Department is still looking to fill three firefighter spots.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow