Colvill Fire Department adds Infrared Camera to its Drone

At their monthly board meeting on December 5, the Colvill Area Volunteer Fire Department (CAVFD) directors saw a demonstra­tion of the new infrared camera mounted on its ob­servation drone. The cam­era will locate hotspots in structure fires to effectively direct suppression efforts and enhance safety for fire­fighters and first respond­ers.

In addition, first respond­ers will use the heat-sens­ing camera in search and rescue operations to locate people lost or injured in re­mote areas.

Colvill is the only fire de­partment in Cook County operating a drone.

Earlier this year, Captain Paul McFarlane, equipment and training officer and one of the founders of CAVFD, was fueling one of the de­partment’s trucks at a gas station in Grand Marais. A gentleman approached Captain Paul and asked if his department would ac­cept a donation of a DJI Matrice drone. To explain the situation, Peter said that he once owned agricultural land in North Dakota and served in his local search and rescue unit, where he used the drone. He has a home on Devil Track and no more need for the drone.

He had just offered to do­nate it to the county sher­iff, who turned him down because no one on his staff was certified to operate a drone. Peter then offered to donate it to the CAVFD.

Captain Paul knew that one of the most recent fire­fighter recruits to CAVFD, Jordan Ekroot, was an ex­perienced drone operator, so he accepted Peter’s kind offer.

While a new Matrice model, built by DJI, a glob­al manufacturer headquar­tered in China, would cost over $10,000, CAVFD is committed to making the most of any opportunity to improve its services at the lowest cost. This responsi­ble approach ensures that resources are used effi­ciently to benefit the com­munity.

Ekroot has been flying drones for at least a decade. In addition to his certifica­tions to pilot helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, he holds a Remote Pilot Certif­icate from the FAA’s Small Unmanned Aerial Sys­tem rule (Part 107). This certificate demonstrates a complete understanding of regulations, operating re­quirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.

Ekroot used one of his personal drones for grid searches in August last year to try and locate ultralight flyer Denny Pechacek, who went missing after taking off in Hovland on August 18.

CAVFD Chief Frank Newman praised Ekroot’s work preparing the depart­ment’s drone for action to assist in fire and search and rescue efforts throughout the county. He said the next step is to identify and train an additional pilot to oper­ate the drone if Ekroot is unavailable.

A group of dedicated residents began organiz­ing CAVFD in 1996. Their tireless efforts, including seeking grants to equip and train firefighters and build a fire hall on Highway 61, have been instrumental in the department’s growth. The fire hall was completed in 1998, firefighters were ready, and the department was officially recognized, a testament to the communi­ty’s commitment to safety.

The Colvill fire district is roughly defined from Five Mile Rock on the west along Highway 61 to the Brule River on the east. From Lake Superior to Trout Lake, the district is approximately 72 square miles.

CAVFD is a comprehen­sive emergency service provider, offering structur­al and wildland firefight­ing services, medical first responders, vehicular ac­cident rescue, and search and rescue operations. This wide range of services en­sures the community is well-protected in emergen­cies.