The Flemish Ardennes Fire Department will now use drones during interventions, in collaboration with Citymesh. The test project involves installing drones at four strategic locations in the region: Oudenaarde, Ronse, Zottegem, and soon Kruisem.
“Thanks to the drones, the fire department can assess the scale of an incident before even arriving. This allows us to decide more quickly and effectively which resources and personnel are needed,” says Jonathan Jouret of the Flemish Ardennes Fire Department.
Drones provide real-time aerial footage
Within minutes of an alert, drones can take off and stream live aerial images to dispatchers and the first response teams. The advanced cameras provide an immediate overview of the situation and help the fire department assess:
- The scale of the fire or incident
- Presence of victims
- Dangerous areas and obstacles
- Access routes to the site
Flying in a straight line, drones avoid traffic or terrain delays and sometimes reach the incident faster than fire trucks. “This means emergency services can respond faster and more appropriately, saving valuable time and deploying resources more effectively,” Jouret explains.
Automatic deployment for critical incidents
Drones are automatically deployed for certain types of interventions, such as building or industrial fires, hazardous material incidents, or situations where someone is trapped.
“Footage is used exclusively to support the intervention and only covers the incident area, not private property or homes,” emphasizes Jouret. “This ensures residents’ privacy while guaranteeing safe, targeted, and responsible drone use.”
Test project across Flanders
Citymesh has already installed around 70 drone systems for emergency services in Flanders. In addition to the Flemish Ardennes, there are test projects in 24 other emergency zones, such as Fluvia and Brandweer Zone Kempen. The results of the Flemish Ardennes trial will be evaluated over the coming months, with the goal of expanding the program.
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