The City of Mission will soon augment its forestry and fire departments with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is expected to be utilized in dozens of applications.
On Monday night, council unanimously approved the use of $75,261 from a forestry department capital reserve to fund the purchase of a 2024 DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone along with a thermal camera and a light detection and ranging – or LiDAR – sensor.
Mission Fire Rescue Service (MFRS) Fire Inspector Nathan Unger told CIVL Radio that the equipment transports the department, “into the 21st century.”
Unger said MFRS would, “like to have it in the air by middle to end of summer, but that might be a little bit ambitious,” and added he expects six fire fighters will be trained in advanced drone operation.
Mayor Paul Horn said at council that the drone is a “very wise investment.”
