First responders with Woodbridge Fire District knew exactly which areas to avoid when called to a local house fire that broke out due to a pest control treatment.
Identifying locations within a structure fire that contain higher heat levels or show proximity to a combustible gas line can make the difference between life or death. Avoiding such dangers is now possible thanks to a new county program utilizing drones to identify hot spots with its thermal recognition technology.
Lowell Barber is an emergency planner and the chief drone pilot with the Office of Emergency Services (OES). He said the advances in drone technology offer a range of features in addition to thermal imagery, such as lidar, which can detect differences in elevation.
“These drones help the engineers or the first responders better perform those mitigation efforts,” Barber said.” And that’s our main goal.”
The OES first gained approval for its new drone program in 2023 after securing $101,000 in funding from a state grant. Now, after required training for the county’s drone pilots, the program is beginning to take off.
Since the launch, OES has flown its drones in at least 20 missions, including fires, community outreach events, and assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in assessing hazardous waste releases and gathering footage of their levee system.
“We provided (the Coast Guard) with footage so their engineers could look over it and see if there are any potential issues with that specific water reclamation district,” said Barber.
Barber says training time averages about 100 hours per year, with at least eight hours of ongoing training per month to maintain proficiency. Three pilots in the county are currently certified to operate the drones, with two more in the training pipeline.
OES officials say the drones are equipped for missions like assisting in inspecting critical infrastructure, conducting search and rescue operations, managing large public events, and delivering emergency supplies.
The program also extends beyond county operations, offering support to cities, special districts and reclamation districts within the county. The drones will not, however, be used for any type of human surveillance or for law enforcement incidents, according to county officials.
As of March, the program consists of three drones, including two DJI Matrice 300 models and one DJI Mavick 3 edition model, all paid for through state grant funding.
Now, it will be up to the county and nearby agencies to maintain training and cultivate partnerships for authorized drone usage.
“Part of the goal of the drone operations group is to formalize that training. That way, it’s standardized throughout the county,” Barber said. “That way, if an agency has a licensed pilot that has undergone our training and meets that criteria, but doesn’t have a drone, they can use ours.”
That training system will be known as the San Joaquin County Drone Operations Group, serving as an internal mutual aid network for data collection, ensuring coordinated drone support across agencies. Framework for providing external drone assistance during disasters will also be established.
Training requires pilots to earn Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification under guidelines for non-recreational pilots — i.e. those pilots working professionally — who fly remote drones. In order to be certified, pilots must be knowledgeable on drone laws, pass a test and register with the FAA.
Whether providing aerial imagery to improve safety for first responders or gathering mapping data on burn scars, Barber said the drone program has brought a level of efficiency that could be the difference between life or death.
“This has really provided a great resource to our county and our local agencies. It plays a crucial role in disaster management,” Barber said. “Our office is committed to expanding this program to improve our public safety.”
The drones will play a key role in protecting both first responders and the public, Barber said.