Los Angeles County Fire Department
Amid the fierce and unpredictable wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) faced a critical and dangerous challenge: a reckless, unauthorized drone collided with one of their Super Scoopers while actively battling the fires. The incident highlighted the urgent need for expanded airspace security to protect not only the department's aerial operations but also the safety of fire personnel and the surrounding communities on the ground below.
Dedrone by Axon successfully captured the flight path of the unauthorized drone, but additional coverage was needed to ensure full protection during such high-stakes operations. To enhance their existing system, LACFD worked with Dedrone to add additional sensors, improving their ability to monitor a larger area in real time and quickly identify unauthorized drones and their pilots that could disrupt firefighting efforts, enabling quicker responses to prevent further disruptions to critical aerial operations.
By expanding their Dedrone system, LACFD was able to better monitor and secure the airspace, quickly responding to drone threats and preventing further collisions. The additional sensors ensured that firefighting operations could continue with minimal disruption, allowing teams to focus on their critical mission.
The recent collision between a reckless, unauthorized drone and one of our Super Scoopers—while actively battling the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles—underscores the critical need for enhanced airspace security. Our existing Dedrone by Axon system successfully captured the flight path of the drone in question. Dedrone by Axon stepped in to support our efforts by providing additional sensors to expand our coverage area and enhance detection capabilities. Their continued support has been instrumental in protecting our aerial operations, ensuring the safety of our personnel, and safeguarding the communities we serve.
Hans Christian, Los Angeles County Fire Captain and UAS Coordinator