Drone Safety Around Emergency Response Scenes

Key Hazards

• Interfering with helicopters or other emergency aircraft
• Distracting responders during critical operations
• Entering hazardous, restricted, or changing incident areas
• Uncoordinated drones competing for the same airspace
• Loss of control from smoke, heat, weather, or damaged infrastructure
• Unauthorized collection or release of sensitive incident information

2–3 Minute Talk Script

Drones can provide valuable information during emergencies, but an uncoordinated aircraft can interfere with rescue, firefighting, law enforcement, utility restoration, and medical operations.

No drone should be launched into an active incident merely because it could provide a useful view. The operation should be approved and coordinated through the incident command structure or responsible authority.

Helicopters and airplanes may arrive with little warning and may operate at low altitude. The drone crew must maintain communication with command and be prepared to land immediately when crewed aircraft are expected or observed.

The incident area may include smoke, heat, hazardous materials, damaged power lines, unstable structures, traffic, crowds, and rapidly changing exclusion zones. Launch and observation points should not place the flight crew in danger.

Multiple agencies or contractors may bring drones to the same scene. Airspace coordination, call signs, operating areas, altitudes, and landing instructions should be established before simultaneous operations occur.

Responders should not be distracted by a drone hovering near their work. The route should avoid personnel, hose lines, ladders, cranes, rescue equipment, and areas where falling aircraft could affect victims or responders.

Images and live video may contain sensitive information. Data should be shared only through approved channels and should not distract command personnel from immediate safety decisions.

If the drone operation is not requested, authorized, and integrated into the response plan, the aircraft should remain grounded and clear of the scene.

Safety Reminders

• Coordinate every flight through incident command or the responsible authority.
• Expect low-flying emergency aircraft and land immediately when directed.
• Keep the flight crew outside hazardous and changing scene boundaries.
• Coordinate multiple drones before simultaneous operations.
• Avoid distracting or flying over responders and victims.
• Handle incident images and data through approved channels.
• Do not launch an unrequested or unauthorized drone at an emergency scene.

Ask the Crew

• Who has authorized and is coordinating the drone operation?
• Could helicopters or airplanes enter the scene?
• What incident hazards affect the launch point and flight route?
• Are other agencies or contractors operating drones?
• How will imagery be delivered without distracting responders?