Drone aiding Colorado Springs Fire Department in responding to calls quicker

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- A new drone is helping the Colorado Springs Fire Department be more efficient, which officials say is crucial during extreme fire danger.

CSFD started a drone program in 2016, but that technology became outdated. Last year, when Chief Randy Royal took over, he said he wanted to get the program up and running again.

"The idea with this, I think is, going to be where we can probably within 5 minutes of getting to a scene we’ll have this up in the air," explained Captain Mike Smaldino with the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

The Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs recently donated $33,000 to buy the drone, and for the past two months they've been testing it out.

"If we can embrace technology and use it to our advantage we can get firefighters in there quicker, safer," said Smaldino.

The drone comes with big advantages. CSFD says it helps give a different perspective when it comes to a structure fire, grass fire, or a high-angle rescue.

"With the infrared camera we can see heat, so we know if there’s still heat in a building where we’re fighting a fire. Or out at grass fire, we can look to patrol a little bit easier," said Smaldino

The technology was recently used at the Silver Charm fire up in Briargate.

"We were able to fly this pretty quick to try and get an idea of where that fire was and where it was going," said Smaldino.

It's not the first time drones have been used to help fight fires in Colorado Springs, but this one helps crews keep moving forward.

"This is a bigger drone, but it's built that way so it can be up in the air longer, it can fly longer and in worse conditions," said Smaldino.