In an progressive step towards enhancing public safety, Fremont, California, has turn out to be the primary city in the US to implement a Drone First Responder (DFR) program across each its Fire and Police Departments.
Announced today, the joint DFR program was officially approved by the Fremont City Council on February 13, 2024. Skyfire Consulting collaborated with the town to develop this system, providing comprehensive services including consulting, community engagement, regulatory support—specifically acquiring a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver—and specialized training.
The DFR program goals to revolutionize the way in which public safety incidents are managed in Fremont by deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from fixed locations to swiftly reply to emergencies. These UAVs, operated by certified professionals, are designed to succeed in incident scenes ahead of traditional first responders. By doing so, they supply invaluable real-time situational awareness through live-streamed video feeds, enabling on-ground teams to make informed decisions, de-escalate potential threats, and discover hazards and rescue opportunities more effectively.
Matt Sloane, the founder and CEO of Skyfire, expressed his pride in supporting Fremont’s pioneering efforts. “Skyfire is honored to support Fremont in launching this historic DFR program,” Sloane stated. “Our team’s deep experience and commitment to public safety were instrumental in bringing this program to life, and we’re confident it can serve the Fremont community well.”
The implementation of the DFR program was preceded by a successful pilot phase from November 2022 to January 2023, demonstrating the numerous impact of UAVs in enhancing public safety, reducing response times, and safeguarding first responders. This system received robust support from the community, further underscoring its potential advantages.
In a strategic move to increase the reach and efficacy of the DFR program, a partnership has been formed with the Washington Hospital Healthcare System (WHHS). Later this month, WHHS is about to facilitate UAV launches from its rooftop location on Mowry Avenue, significantly expanding this system’s operational scope throughout the community.
Jeff Kleven, Battalion Chief of the Fremont Fire Department, highlighted the potential life-saving impact of the DFR program. “We’re proud to work with Skyfire to launch this groundbreaking DFR program,” said Kleven. “This program has the potential to save lots of lives and make our community safer, and Skyfire’s expertise has been invaluable in getting us so far.”
Fremont’s adoption of the joint DFR program marks a big advancement in using technology for public safety and emergency response, setting a precedent for other cities to follow in enhancing their very own public safety measures through progressive solutions.
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