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Local News

Litchfield Fire Department Holds Drone Demonstration

On Saturday morning, the Litchfield Fire Department hosted other area emergency response teams at Lincoln Land Community College for a demonstration on a drone the department recently acquired.

Litchfield Fire Chief Kevin Schott told those in attendance that he recently visited Lindsey's RC Hobbies in Litchfield looking to purchase a drone. Store Owner Gary Lindsey told him that he had a $1,000 drone for sale that he would let go for $799. Schott told him he was only able to spend $500, so Lindsey agreed to sell it for $499; but before Schott was able to complete the transaction, Lindsey changed his mind and decided to donate the drone to the department at no cost.

Schott, who was grateful for Lindsey's generosity, said the drone will be available to other area emergency management agencies who need it. The drone can be used to complete perimeter searches of cornfields and wooded areas as well as assessing damage from tornadoes and severe storms.

He said it would be used primarily for fire pre-planning. He stated that it usually takes hours to draw maps of buildings, but the drone will allow firefighters to complete mapping in around a half an hour.

RFD