The Cleveland Department of Public Safety Drone First Responder (DFR) Program enhances City first responder safety, operational effectiveness, and community protection through the strategic use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for aerial assessment, improved response times, situational awareness, and evidence documentation. Fire drones are remotely piloted aircrafts equipped with cameras and sensors that the Cleveland Division of Fire uses to enhance operations. They’re battery powered, controlled from a secure location, and can transmit live video or data back to Department of Public Safety personnel in real time. Unmanned aircrafts are operated in a responsible manner, governed by policy as incorporated into various Public Safety Division orders, Ohio State laws, and federal rules and regulations; ensuring that the privacy rights of the people in the State of Ohio are respected.

Cleveland Division of Fire's Drone Uses:

Mass Casualty Incidents Missing Endangered Persons Search and Rescue Operations Planned Training Exercises Motor Vehicle Crashes with Known Injury, Entrapment, or Hazardous Materials Technical Rescue Scenes

This program applies only to the DFR program instituted under the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, for initial response to critical incident dispatched events and does not apply to any other UAV/UAS programs maintained or operated in any of the other Divisions of the Department