>>Virginia Beach Fire Touts Benefits of Drones During Emergencies
(Virginia Beach, VA) -- Drones have become a crucial tool for fire departments in Virginia and nationwide, despite recent negative incidents involving them. Virginia Beach Fire Department Master Firefighter and drone pilot John McMahon says they use drones for various emergency situations.Preview: He tells WAVY the drones are often first on the scene. The devices provide real-time situational awareness, thermal imaging, and communication capabilities for first responders and can even offer some help during water rescues.Preview: McMahon adds drones were used in nearly 1,000 emergency calls last year.