08/03/2025
We are often asked how drones compliment the fire service and FEMA missions. Below is a great outline and references.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)
Recognition:
NFPA 2400: "Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations"
First released in 2019, this is the definitive national standard for using drones in fire service, EMS, and law enforcement.
It codifies drones as legitimate tools for emergency response, including for:
Fire suppression support
Search and rescue
Hazard assessment
Post-incident documentation
Key Provisions in NFPA 2400:
Defines training, deployment, maintenance, and safety procedures.
Lists drones as response tools, similar to thermal imagers or radios.
Establishes command integration protocols for drone units in the Incident Command System (ICS).
So, while a drone is not a "fire truck," NFPA does officially classify UAS as fire service equipment within its operational standards.
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Recognition:
FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams have incorporated drones in deployment guidance.
FEMA funds grant programs (like Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)) that have approved drone purchases for fire departments since 2018–2019.
FEMA published use-case studies for drones in:
Disaster assessment
Hazmat overwatch
SAR (Search and Rescue)
FEMA Typing:
Drones are part of NIMS Resource Typing for specialty teams, including:
Airborne Search and Rescue Modules
Technical Support Modules
Some FEMA USAR task forces now deploy with drone teams for reconnaissance.
Conclusion
Organization Drone Recognition Classification Example Use Cases
NFPA Yes – via NFPA 2400 Fire service operational tool Thermal imaging, recon, search/rescue
FEMA Yes – within USAR & NIMS SAR / tech resource Damage assessment, mapping, overwatch
