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Flagstaff Officials Explore Drones-as-First-Responder Program for Police, Fire Calls

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Flagstaff Officials Explore Drones-as-First-Responder Program for Police, Fire Calls

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • Flagstaff, Arizona, police, fire and emergency management leaders held three community meetings last week on a potential drones as first responder (DFR) program.
  • No DFR program has been formally proposed to or voted on by the city council; officials are still developing policy and have not selected pilots or acquired the technology.
  • The proposal calls for three Skydio X10 drones docked at locations around the city, flown by human pilots and monitored through the unified police-fire-EMS dispatch center.
  • Officials said the drones would lack facial recognition and would not function as license-plate readers, and stressed all flights would be auditable; some residents raised surveillance and data-sharing concerns, drawing comparisons to the city’s earlier cancellation of a Flock Safety contract.
  • No date has been set for a formal proposal to the city council.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Leaders from the Flagstaff Police Department, Flagstaff Fire Department and other city agencies held a series of community meetings last week to gather public input on a possible drones as first responder program, though no formal proposal has been made to the city council.

“Right now, we haven’t dedicated pilots to this yet. We don’t have the technology yet,” Deputy Police Chief Collin Seay said at the first of three meetings. “We haven’t created the policy yet. We want to do that together with the community.”

Under the proposal, three Skydio X10 drones — quadcopters equipped with visual and thermal cameras — would be stationed at locations around the city, including the police and sheriff’s building on Sawmill Avenue. The drones would be flown by human pilots working with the Consolidated City of Flagstaff/Coconino County Emergency Communications Call Center, the area’s unified dispatch center for police, sheriff, fire and EMS. Police Chief Sean Connolly said the drones would respond to Part I violent and property crimes as classified by the FBI, while fire officials said the devices could help verify smoke reports, crash alerts and medical emergencies. Emergency management officials said drones could also assist in assessing flooding.

Officials said the drones would not carry facial recognition technology and would not be used as license-plate readers, though they acknowledged the manufacturer, Skydio, markets the X10 as capable of reading plates and identifying vehicles from a distance. Connolly said all drone flights would be human-piloted, geofenced away from restricted airspace such as Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and Flagstaff Medical Center, and subject to auditing, with a goal of eventually publishing flight data on a public dashboard.

The proposal follows the city’s 2025 cancellation of a Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader contract after public backlash over its unannounced installation, which led to the creation of Flagstaff’s Technology Privacy Task Force. That group recommended the department pursue community engagement ahead of any DFR proposal, and officials said they will continue consulting with it as they prepare a formal plan for city council consideration later this year.

At the meetings, some residents questioned whether the program amounted to a new form of surveillance, citing the city’s prior experience with Flock and Skydio’s ties to military and federal immigration contracts; in July, the Minneapolis City Council rejected a similar Skydio-based DFR proposal over the company’s contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Israeli military. Connolly said he would not share drone footage with ICE absent a court order and noted other law enforcement equipment suppliers also maintain military contracts. Others raised concerns about potential collisions with medical transport helicopters that operate near Flagstaff Medical Center without an air traffic controller; department officials said they are coordinating with helicopter operators to mitigate that risk.

Connolly said the estimated annual cost of the drones and associated software would be about $12,000 as part of the city’s existing five-year, $3.5 million contract with Axon Enterprise, which also supplies the department’s body cameras and other technology. No date has been set for a formal presentation to the Flagstaff City Council, and officials said additional community meetings may be held before then.

19 Injured, Including 5 FDNY Firefighters, in Bronx Crash Between Fire Truck and MTA Bus

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19 Injured, Including 5 FDNY Firefighters, in Bronx Crash Between Fire Truck and MTA Bus

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • An FDNY fire truck and an MTA bus collided at a Bronx intersection around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, injuring 19 people.
  • Five firefighters and 14 civilians were taken to New York City-area hospitals; none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
  • The crash occurred near Southern Boulevard and Barretto Street.
  • Security video showed the bus entering the intersection with a green light; a witness said the fire truck entered at high speed without emergency lights or sirens activated.
  • The investigation is ongoing.

NEW YORK — Nineteen people were injured Tuesday when an FDNY fire truck collided with an MTA bus at a Bronx intersection, authorities said.

Five firefighters and 14 civilians were taken to area hospitals following the crash, which occurred around 12:30 p.m. near Southern Boulevard and Barretto Street, according to NBC New York. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Security video obtained by NBC showed the bus entering the intersection with a green light. A witness told CBS News that the FDNY truck entered the intersection “going at a high speed” and did not have its emergency lights or siren activated. Both vehicles appeared to swerve in an effort to avoid a more serious collision.

Photos from the scene showed the bus’s front windshield shattered on the side opposite the driver. The bus was carrying more than a dozen passengers at the time of the crash, according to ABC.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said in a statement that she was “praying for the passengers injured and those receiving medical assistance on site and at area hospitals.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

Grapevine, Texas, Firefighters Vote No Confidence in Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs Amid EMS Shift

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Grapevine, Texas, Firefighters Vote No Confidence in Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs Amid EMS Shift

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • The Grapevine Professional Firefighters Association, Local 3113, announced Aug. 14 that its members voted overwhelmingly no confidence in Fire Chief Darrell Brown and two assistant chiefs.
  • Nearly 94% of union members voted no confidence in Brown; Assistant Chief Wes Williams received an 87.9% no-confidence vote and Assistant Chief Stuart Grant received 82.2%.
  • The union cited concerns over staffing, fire response capabilities, communication and morale following a department reallocation that shut down an engine company and replaced it with a two-firefighter EMS-focused squad truck.
  • Grapevine City Manager Bruno Rumbelow defended department leadership in a statement, calling the union’s public criticism unconstructive and unprofessional.
  • The no-confidence vote carries no official bearing on the chiefs’ employment status.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The Grapevine Professional Firefighters Association announced Aug. 14 that its members voted overwhelmingly no confidence in Fire Chief Darrell Brown and two assistant chiefs, escalating a dispute with department leadership over a shift toward EMS-focused operations.

According to the union, Local 3113, 94% of members voted no confidence in Brown, while Assistant Chief Wes Williams received an 87.9% no-confidence vote and Assistant Chief Stuart Grant received 82.2%. The vote carries no official bearing on the chiefs’ employment status, but the union said it documents members’ lack of confidence in department leadership.

The vote follows a department reallocation plan that decommissioned Engine 1 and replaced it with a squad truck staffed by two firefighters. The union said the change reduces personnel and equipment available to fight fires before an engine company arrives, raising concerns about response capability at high-traffic locations including Grapevine Mills, area hotels, entertainment venues and schools.

In a statement, the association said members have raised concerns for two years about department leadership, communication, transparency and decision-making, and that many of those concerns “have not been adequately addressed.” The union also said some members’ employment has been affected by what it described as documented threats and intimidation tied to disagreements with leadership decisions. Its rationale document cited concerns including centralized decision-making among a small executive group, inconsistent use of data, and reduced frontline fire-response capability without a transparent risk analysis.

Grapevine City Manager Bruno Rumbelow defended department leadership in a statement posted to the city’s Facebook page, saying public safety remains a top city priority. Rumbelow said union members’ public criticism of the chief was “not constructive” and did not reflect the professionalism he expects from department personnel, adding that leadership requires making difficult decisions about staffing, equipment and resources that will not always be popular.

A city spokesperson said the statement represents Grapevine’s complete response and that no additional information would be provided.

NTSB Preliminary Report Details Final Moments Before Fatal Utah Firefighting Helicopter Crash

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NTSB Preliminary Report Details Final Moments Before Fatal Utah Firefighting Helicopter Crash

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the Aug. 7 helicopter crash that killed pilots Miles Elliott and Chris Andersen while they battled the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah.
  • The pilots were flying a Sikorsky CH-54A Skycrane Helitanker under contract with the U.S. Forest Service for Helicopter Transport Services.
  • The helicopter crashed 23 minutes after takeoff, disappearing behind a knoll during a turn before the crew radioed “we have a problem” and then issued a mayday call.
  • The NTSB said the helicopter struck rising terrain; the cause remains under investigation.
  • Much of the aircraft was destroyed by fire; some components have been recovered for testing, with the remainder to be collected when conditions allow.

SEVIER COUNTY, Utah — The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on the Aug. 7 helicopter crash that killed two pilots battling the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah, providing new detail on the aircraft’s final moments.

Pilots Miles Elliott and Chris Andersen were flying a Sikorsky CH-54A Skycrane Helitanker equipped with a 2,650-gallon water tank and retractable hover-snorkel system. Both worked for Helicopter Transport Services under contract with the U.S. Forest Service.

According to the NTSB, the helicopter crashed 23 minutes after taking off from Richfield Municipal Airport at 10:21 a.m. After coordinating with an aerial supervisor, the crew filled the helicopter’s water tank and flew to the requested drop location, making an initial pass to confirm the target before telling supervisors they would make another pass before dropping water.

As the helicopter made a right turn, it disappeared behind a knoll. The crew then radioed “we have a problem” before issuing a mayday call, their final communication, the NTSB said.

Investigators said the helicopter struck rising terrain, though the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Much of the aircraft was destroyed by fire; some components have been recovered for testing, and the remainder will be collected once conditions are safe.

Injured Ingalls, Okla., Firefighter Returns Home After Tanker Rollover Crash

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Injured Ingalls, Okla., Firefighter Returns Home After Tanker Rollover Crash

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • Ingalls, Oklahoma, firefighter Josh Contreras has returned home and is walking after suffering a broken back and neck in a fire apparatus rollover earlier this month.
  • Contreras and fellow firefighter Jace Wilson were injured when their fire tanker suffered a tire blowout and rolled over several times, coming to rest in the woods.
  • The two were returning from an incident call at the time of the crash.
  • Stillwater firefighters extricated one of the injured firefighters at the scene before transport to the hospital.
  • Wilson has already been released from the hospital; officials said Contreras faces a lengthy recovery.

INGALLS, Okla. — An Ingalls firefighter has returned home and is able to walk after suffering a broken back and neck in a tanker rollover crash earlier this month, according to fire officials.

Josh Contreras was seriously injured when the fire apparatus he and fellow firefighter Jace Wilson were riding in suffered a tire blowout, causing the truck to roll over several times before coming to rest in the woods. The two were returning from an incident call when the crash occurred.

Stillwater firefighters extricated one of the injured firefighters at the scene before both were transported to the hospital.

Wilson has since been released from the hospital. Contreras is now able to walk, though fire officials said his recovery will be lengthy.

Bridgewater, Mass., Police, Paramedics Save Man Injured by Circular Saw; Officials Credit Cadaver Lab Training

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Bridgewater, Mass., Police, Paramedics Save Man Injured by Circular Saw; Officials Credit Cadaver Lab Training

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • A man suffered a severe leg injury from a circular saw at a South Street home in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, around 4:12 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Bridgewater police officers were first on scene and stopped the bleeding using quick-clot gauze and a tourniquet before fire paramedics arrived to administer blood and fluid replacement.
  • The Canton Fire Department’s blood transfusion unit met the ambulance en route to the hospital to provide additional treatment.
  • Bridgewater’s police and fire chiefs credited joint active-shooter training and a cadaver lab session, where responders had practiced a humeral head intraosseous line technique used in the response.
  • The incident remains under investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department.

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — A Bridgewater man survived a severe leg injury from a circular saw Tuesday after police officers and fire paramedics used techniques drawn from joint training exercises, including a cadaver lab session, to stabilize him before he reached the hospital.

The incident occurred at a home on South Street around 4:12 p.m., according to the Bridgewater Police and Fire Departments. A man fell at the home and cut his leg with a circular saw.

Bridgewater police officers were the first to arrive and took over bleeding control from the 911 caller, applying quick-clot gauze and a tourniquet. Bridgewater Fire Department paramedics then arrived to administer blood and fluid replacement before loading the man into an ambulance. En route to the hospital, the ambulance was met by the Canton Fire Department’s blood transfusion unit, which provided additional treatment.

Police Chief Christopher D. Delmonte and Fire Chief John Schlatz said the responders “worked together calmly, quickly and professionally in order to save a life.” Delmonte said the officers’ actions reflected skills practiced during the departments’ annual joint Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response Training.

Schlatz said paramedics used a humeral head intraosseous line technique that had been practiced during a cadaver lab training session. He said a trauma surgeon involved in the man’s care told officials the responders’ actions were instrumental in preventing a more serious outcome.

The incident remains under investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department.

Explosions Spark Massive Fire at Toledo Recycling Plant, 2 Workers Unaccounted For

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Explosions Spark Massive Fire at Toledo Recycling Plant, 2 Workers Unaccounted For

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • Two explosions struck Brent Industries, an industrial recycling facility in Toledo, Ohio, shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday, sparking a large fire.
  • Two workers remained unaccounted for and several others sustained minor injuries, officials said.
  • Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said crews were working to contain the fire, deal with hazardous chemicals and tanks that exploded, and account for all employees; at least half the building had collapsed by late morning.
  • The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the explosions and has up to six months to complete its review.
  • The company’s Alabama facility experienced a fatal explosion in 2015 linked to flammable vapor from a cleaning solvent; fire officials said tanks of the same solvent, mineral spirits, were present at the Toledo plant.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Explosions rocked an industrial recycling facility in Toledo early Tuesday, sparking a large fire that drew a heavy emergency response and left two workers unaccounted for.

The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department said two explosions occurred at Brent Industries shortly before 5 a.m., during a shift change. Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said several employees sustained minor injuries, while two workers who were seen in the building before the blast could not be located as of Tuesday morning. “We’re working to contain the fire and account for all the employees right now,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said crews were battling both the fire and hazardous materials, including chemicals, runoff and tanks that had exploded. By late morning, she said, at least half the building had collapsed and the fire was still burning. No preliminary cause had been identified.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it is investigating the explosions and has up to six months to complete its review; the agency said no further information would be released until the investigation concludes. State environmental officials were also on scene monitoring for potential impacts, and authorities urged nearby residents who could see or smell smoke to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

Brent Industries, based in Brent, Alabama, provides industrial textile reconditioning and recycling services and has operated in Toledo since 1977. Fire officials said tanks containing mineral spirits, a petroleum-based solvent used in the company’s cleaning process, were present at the Toledo facility. The company’s Alabama location experienced a fatal explosion in 2015 that OSHA attributed to flammable vapor from mineral spirits igniting in an industrial washing machine; that incident resulted in six citations and a $27,000 fine. OSHA also cited the Toledo facility in 2004 for safety violations after workers were exposed to a steam release from a washing machine.

Surgical Team Called to Georgia Construction Site for Complex Worker Rescue

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Surgical Team Called to Georgia Construction Site for Complex Worker Rescue

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • A construction worker became entangled in machinery after falling into it during a concrete-pouring operation near Athens, Georgia, on Aug. 14.
  • Athens-Clarke County firefighters responded around 6:45 a.m. and spent more than an hour freeing the worker.
  • Due to the severity of the injuries and complexity of the machinery, a trauma team from Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, including surgeons and an anesthesiologist, was called to the scene.
  • The worker’s identity and condition have not been released.
  • The cause of the industrial accident remains under investigation.

ATHENS, Ga. — A specialized medical team including surgeons and an anesthesiologist was called to a construction site on the Athens Bypass on Aug. 14 to assist with a complex extrication after a worker became entangled in machinery.

Athens-Clarke County firefighters responded around 6:45 a.m. to an industrial accident near the Atlanta Highway intersection, according to the department. Officials said the worker fell into machinery during a concrete-pouring operation and became trapped.

Rescue crews spent more than an hour working to free the injured worker. Given the severity of the injuries and the complexity of the entrapment, a trauma team from Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center — including surgeons, an anesthesiologist and nurses — was brought to the scene to assist.

Officials have not released the worker’s identity or condition. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Euclid, Ohio, Fire Department Seeks Ways to Curb Non-Emergency EMS Calls as Demand Rises

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Euclid, Ohio, Fire Department Seeks Ways to Curb Non-Emergency EMS Calls as Demand Rises

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • The Euclid Fire Department in Ohio responded to 13,080 incidents in 2025, or about 36 per day, according to its annual report.
  • More than 10,800 of those calls were rescue or emergency medical service responses, continuing a five-year upward trend in EMS demand.
  • Department officials say non-emergency calls are reducing the department’s readiness to respond to more serious incidents.
  • The department is exploring options including a hospital partnership program, alternative transport protocols and social services referrals to address the issue.
  • Euclid operates three fire stations with a minimum of 18 firefighters on duty and has listed adding a fourth ambulance and two additional firefighter-paramedics among its 2026 goals.

EUCLID, Ohio — The Euclid Fire Department responded to more than 13,000 incidents in 2025, with emergency medical calls continuing to dominate its workload as officials look for ways to prevent non-emergency calls from tying up resources needed for serious incidents.

According to the department’s 2025 annual report, firefighters responded to 13,080 incidents last year, an average of about 36 per day. More than 10,800 of those were rescue or EMS calls, continuing a steady increase from 10,163 such calls in 2021. The report separately lists a slightly different total of 10,801 EMS calls for 2025; Euclid Fire Chief Jay Womack has been asked to clarify the discrepancy.

The department said non-acute or non-emergency responses are affecting its ability to remain available for more serious calls. In its annual report, the department said it is exploring several approaches to address the issue, including a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic’s Safer at Home program, meetings with properties to address what it describes as abuse of EMS services, alternative transport protocols and referrals to social services. The report does not specify how many 2025 calls were considered non-emergency or define what the department considers abuse of the EMS system.

Hospital transport times are also affecting ambulance availability. About 75% of patients on EMS calls last year, or roughly 8,100 people, were transported to a hospital. The department said the 2022 closure of a nearby University Hospitals facility and continued centralization of hospital services have resulted in longer transport distances.

When all of Euclid’s ambulances are unavailable, the department dispatches a fire apparatus to begin assessing and treating patients while awaiting an available ambulance or, in more serious cases, requesting mutual aid from a neighboring department. The report noted that outside departments provided assistance for only a small number of Euclid’s calls in 2025.

The department operates three fire stations with a minimum of 18 firefighters on duty, with 2025 average response times ranging from about six minutes to just over six minutes across its stations. Its stated goals for 2026 include adding a fourth ambulance and hiring two additional firefighter-paramedics, supported by federal grant funding and a commitment from city administration.

Detroit Firefighter’s Widow Seeks Line-of-Duty Death Designation After Cancer Death

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Detroit Firefighter’s Widow Seeks Line-of-Duty Death Designation After Cancer Death

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

  • Detroit firefighter Dale Fahoome died in January 2026 after 27 years of service, following a battle with stage 4 esophageal cancer.
  • His widow, Coco Fahoome, is asking the city to recognize his death as connected to his work, which would provide additional family benefits.
  • The Detroit Human Resources Department said the city determined Fahoome’s death did not qualify as a line-of-duty death after reviewing medical documentation.
  • Esophageal cancer is not currently among the cancers covered under Michigan’s presumptive cancer law for firefighters.
  • Fahoome’s son, Walter, hopes to join the Detroit Fire Department; his mother says she wants assurance the city will care for him and other firefighters going forward.

DETROIT — The widow of a longtime Detroit firefighter who died of esophageal cancer is asking city officials to recognize his death as connected to his job, after the city determined it does not qualify as a line-of-duty death.

Dale Fahoome died in January 2026 following a battle with stage 4 esophageal cancer, after 27 years with the Detroit Fire Department. His widow, Coco Fahoome, said he understood both the immediate dangers of firefighting and the long-term cancer risks associated with the profession.

Under Michigan law, certain cancers linked to firefighting can qualify firefighters and their families for additional benefits and support a line-of-duty death designation. Esophageal cancer is not currently included among the qualifying cancers, which has limited the benefits available to Fahoome’s family.

The Detroit Human Resources Department said the city reviewed Fahoome’s case and determined his death did not meet the criteria for a line-of-duty designation. Officials said the family was informed of the decision before his death and that medical documentation supports it, though further details could not be released due to privacy laws.

Coco Fahoome has questioned the consistency of how such designations are applied, citing other cases in which the city recognized deaths as line-of-duty. She said she supports her son Walter’s decision to pursue a career as a Detroit firefighter but wants assurance the city will better support him and other firefighters going forward.

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