Drone program logoThe use of drones within the fire service has rapidly increased given their life-saving assistance capabilities, and yet many US response departments find themselves without the proper information, knowledge, and experience needed to establish, administer, operate, and maintain a cohesive public safety drone program. This page provides access to FREE online training and a new NFPA drone knowledge base as well as links to tools, research, content, and a related standard.

Training

NFPA has developed a FREE, self-paced, 4-hour online training for fire service drone administrators and operators. The online learning features 360-degree interactive menu navigation, immersive 3D & virtual reality tools, including simulations and gamified content that provide a full suite of educational experiences and badge challenges to confirm knowledge and help responders understand and absorb the important steps needed to establish, operate, document, and maintain an effective public safety drone program.

Register

DRONE KNOWLEDGEBASE

The goal of this interactive public safety drone knowledgebase is to promote voluntary information-sharing and collaboration amongst US public safety entities that have established drone programs and those seeking to form programs. 

 

NFP Drones Knowledgebase

NFPA Standard

The first edition of NFPA 2400, Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations, provides the foundation for departments to develop sUAS programs based on the most current industry knowledge and best practices. This all-encompassing standard covers the implementation, deployment, and use of UAS in the public safety community to enhance capabilities in inspections, search and rescue, fire scene efforts, and other operations.

Learn more about NFPA 2400

Research

The Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of NFPA, oversaw the research phase of this project to inform the development of the new NFPA drone training and knowledge base. The Foundation looked at drone utilization across all operational settings including structural and wildland firefighting, search & rescue, hazardous material responses, natural disasters, and public events. Organizational deployment, professional qualifications for public safety personnel, and operational applications were considered. See the final report. 

The Foundation also conducted a workshop to further explore the needs of the first responder community. Proposed methodologies, gaps, priorities, and recommendations were shared and are captured in the project workshop proceedings.

Other Emerging Tech Training Solutions

This latest online training offering for the fire service was spearheaded by the NFPA emerging technology team who has produced other beneficial virtual education solutions in recent years on potential emergency response hazards such as energy storage systems (ESS), alternative/electric vehicles (AFV/EV), and flammable refrigerants.