YORKTON - The Kahkewistahaw Fire Department have taken to the air – sort off.
The department on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation has added its first drone to help in search and rescue.
“We’re probably the first First Nations fire department in southern Saskatchewan,” said Hilliard Bobb who heads up the drone project.
Bobb, who manned a table dedicated to the drone project at the Saskatchewan First Nation Regional Firefighting Competition in Yorkton Thursday, explained the department has had medical first responders for years and search and rescue sort of grew out of that.
While the department doesn’t yet have official search and rescue status, Bobb said that is their objective, with the move into flying drones part of their effort.
Initially the department used drones which were owned by members, but a grant through the Painted Hand Casino Community Development Fund allowed them to purchase a $10,000 drone that offers far greater versatility.
The large drone, and a second one owned by Bobb, have the ability to carry a small package to drop to someone as they await help. They can also be mounted with a search light, or a loud speaker to broadcast a message such as ‘follow the drone for help’.
Of course every add-on used also takes more battery power, so using a spotlight for example, will reduce flight time between battery pack exchanges.
The drone has a flight range of about 10 kilometres, but that is also restricted by the need for the controller to maintain line-of-sight, said Bobb, adding they generally want to operate from the highest ground possible.
The drones are also waterproof which allows flight in rain, said Bobb, adding they fly in winter conditions too.
“They’re able to send GPS coordinates to a search team too,” he noted.
At present one department member has their drone licence, but the plan is for others on the force to qualify.
“We’re taking more training. We want to get certified,” he said.
Bobb said he hopes the move into search and rescue drones is something that catches on.
“We hope to see other fire departments do this,” he said.
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