Mesa Fire and Medical uses drones to aid in search and rescue situations

MESA, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Mesa Fire and Medical Department has been using drones for three years and they've helped to save lives.

"It provides a safe view that doesn't put our folks in harms way," Deputy Shift Commander Brian Kotsur said. "We can get a view from a distance of a hazardous where we can see what's going on without putting our folks in a dangerous situation."

The live feed goes straight back to the command post where they can make a decision based on the view they wouldn't normally be able to attain.

"The screens that you'll see, John's gonna show you here in a second, just the view of that screen from a lot further away," Kotsur said.

The first in the Valley to have technology like this, Mesa firefighters say it makes tasks like finding a lost hiker a whole lot easier.

"With this vantage point in the sky we can locate somebody, search the grid, head right... the types of resources they need to the scene," Kotsur said.