Phoenix Fire Department will continue using drones even with potential ban on some devices

The Phoenix Fire Department continues its usage of drone devices for its operations. Since the formal inception of the technology in 2022, the department has used the drones for fires, mountain rescues and more.

The department also used a drone in its recent rescue of a hiker at Camelback Mountain last week. Despite the notable usage of drones by fire departments, there’s the possibility that the DJI brand could be banned. That’s because the devices based in China sold are deemed a national security risk and have not undergone a security audit.

Kenny Overton is the captain paramedic with the Phoenix Fire Department.

“So our fleet consists of DJI drones and Skydio drones. And what we do here in the city of Phoenix is we've taken a lot of precautions on the front end so that our information is secure," he said.

Overton says the department has taken the precaution to ensure security and that it could pivot to other models if necessary.

“There's a lot of uncertainty. What is gonna happen if the ban is enacted on the 23rd? So I can't speak for the other agencies but I can tell you that the Phoenix Fire Department will be able to provide drone services regardless of what happens, coming up," he said.

He says there’s uncertainty about potential restrictions of the DJI drones.