On Saturday, June 10th, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services (SC FRES) hosted a Drone Rodeo at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank. The event was a huge success, with participants from FirstNet, FDNY, and various other public safety agencies coming together to showcase their drone capabilities. 

Drones have become an increasingly valuable tool for public safety agencies, providing valuable aerial views of emergency situations and helping responders make informed decisions in real-time. The Drone Rodeo allowed these agencies to demonstrate their drone technology and share best practices with other professionals in the field. 

Commissioner Patrick Beckley of SC FRES expressed his appreciation for all the participants who helped make the Drone Rodeo a success. He emphasized the importance of utilizing the latest technology to improve emergency response times and protect the public. 

“The use of drones in rescue and emergency management is no longer the sole domain of future technology, they are here and now.” said Commissioner Beckley. “More and more organizations are putting drone teams together and events like our Drone Rodeo allow us to come together and share best practices and lessons learned. It provides us with the ability to better coordinate our operational protocols during actual emergencies such as industrial or brush fires.” 

FirstNet, a digital communications network designed with and for first responders, was also present at the event. Built with AT&T, their transformative mission-critical solutions are designed to modernize public safety and provide the unique and evolving communications needs of first responders and those who support them. 

“It was an honor and a privilege for FirstNet to take part in Suffolk County Fire and Rescue Services’ inaugural Drone Rodeo,” said AJ Allen, FirstNet Program at AT&T. “As public safety’s network, FirstNet is delivering an unparallel level of support to first responders both in crisis situations and in planned events. By sponsoring the Drone Rodeo, more of our local public safety community were able to get a first-hand look at deployable assets from the dedicated FirstNet fleet, as well as public safety-centric robotics solutions to further enhance their situational awareness during a fire. We especially want to thank Commissioner Beckley and Chief Miniutti for this opportunity – as well as furthering the FirstNet mission – and look forward to supporting future training events.”  

The Drone Rodeo was an opportunity for public safety agencies to come together and collaborate on how drones can be used most effectively in emergency situations. By sharing information and learning from one another, these agencies are better equipped to serve the communities they protect. 

Overall, the Drone Rodeo was a great success, and Suffolk County FRES looks forward to hosting similar events in the future. 

For more information on Suffolk County FRES and its programs, please visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/FRES.