Office 614-642-4900
Dispatch 614-642-4911
AFRS
Emergency Drone Services
NOTICE
Claims made within this site are subject to change and may contain errors or omissions.
Click here for our coverage areas.
DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES - AFRS DISPATCH IS RESERVED FOR GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE CALLERS
EMERGENCY DRONE SERVICES
Why Choose AFRS?
AFRS is authorized to provide emergency drone services to Federal, State, Local agencies, and national infrastructure within Ohio. Insured by VFIS, our certified firefighter drone pilots enhance your existing public safety offerings. By leveraging our expertise and state-of-the-art technology, your team can focus on the task at hand and leave the air support up to us.
Coverage Areas
Our current coverage areas include Clinton and Highland counties as well as portions of neighboring counties. (See map) If your Ohio community would like to increase your public safety offerings with emergency robotic response, simply give us a call and we will discuss bringing up a new coverage area to serve you and your neighboring regions.
Comprehensive Shared Services
By partnering with AFRS, communities benefit from our expertise in emergency robotics and leverage our training from DHS and our experience in drone operations and emergency scenes. Our leadership has been trained on topics related to: drone operations, counter drone terrorism, cyber security, bombing prevention, and more. We handle all aspects of emergency robotics, including the technology, specialized insurance, staffing, aircraft maintenance, and other operational matters. This allows your team to focus on what they know best while leaving the emergency robotic worries to us.
SHARED EMERGENCY SEVICES
Firefighter Pilots
During times of emergency, our firefighter pilots stand prepared to support your Ohio agency. We are authorized to provide emergency services to Federal, State, and local authorities. Our licensed drone operators utilize public safety-grade drones that comply with NFPA 2400 and FEMA standards.
Ohio communities within our coverage area can summon us verbally or establish agreements to provide additional services. (ORC 9.60)
1/2 Million Served
Our shared services currently span multiple regions in Ohio, enabling us to meet the needs of more than 533,000 residents across ten different counties.
SCENARIO TIME
A minivan, carrying two children, has veered off the road and is submerged in water. The driver is unconscious, and the children are calling for help.
They haven't arrived home from school yet and loved ones are worried. Although they take the same route home each day, their location can't be seen from the roadway and their hidden position make their situation dire.
AFRS - Our one mile daytime visibility and advanced thermal imaging for nighttime operations allows our team to see urgent life safety matters that can't be seen from the ground.
Your Safety, Our Priority
Whether it's a hazardous area where first responders can't enter, wildfires endangering inhabited regions, or the aftermath of a destructive tornado, our firefighter pilots are on standby for immediate deployment day or night within our coverage areas.
Our thermal imaging and spotlights empower our nighttime teams to effectively support your ground crew. Additionally, our drones are equipped with speaker systems featuring LRAD technology, enabling clear communication of crucial public messages from the sky, especially in areas with limited infrastructure
Empowering Communities
Our mission is straightforward: to provide emergency robotic services to communities throughout Ohio
Numerous government drone programs often fall short of realizing their full potential or face early failures. This isn't a result of staff's lack of enthusiasm but is typically attributed to the considerable regulatory, insurance, and operational challenges inherent in running a successful drone program.
We handle all the legal, regulatory, insurance, and staffing needs, streamlining the intricacies of operating a successful drone program for your community.
Robust and Resilient
Our public safety grade robotics are designed to excel in adverse conditions, from rain to snow and beyond. In addition to the amazing drone capabilities, our public safety vehicles have self-healing internet technology, allowing us to seamlessly utilize multiple public safety data carriers (FIrstnet), ensuring reliable connectivity even in the face of most infrastructure outages.
SCENARIO TIME
A 24-year-old business manager wanted a (unplugged) weekend mountain biking escape from the corporate world at a state park with over 4,000 acres of land. However, they crashed off the trail, striking their head on a rock, and now, they're unconscious.
Worried friends and family can't reach them as night falls.
AFRS - Our advanced thermal imaging capabilities enable visibility in complete darkness. The warm black tires, still emitting heat from the day's sun, are clearly visible, while the heat pattern of a human is represented by the large white object.
Using our infrared lasers, we can precisely pinpoint the victim's location and effortlessly send a Google Maps pin to the rescue team. This technology ensures that the rescue team is guided directly to the victim, typically within a range of 3 to 6 feet.
Extended Operation, Minimal Hassle
Our hybrid public safety vehicles boast an impressive capability to remain on the emergency scene for up to four consecutive days without the need for refueling. They also recharge all essential electronics, ensuring uninterrupted support throughout the duration of your emergency.
Experienced Leadership
Our leadership team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in commercial aviation, unmanned vehicle operations, fire service, emergency management, and counter-drone terrorism to the table.
Comprehensive Coverage and Confidence
Rest assured knowing that AFRS is fully insured by VFIS, where each public safety-grade drone is covered by its unique serial number. This ensures that your agency receives the peace of mind knowing that we are covered.
A Trusted Partner in Emergency Services
AFRS operates strictly within the boundaries of the law, enabling us to extend our services to all levels of government – Federal, State, and Local -- (Ohio boundaries) – as well as critical components of our national infrastructure during emergencies.
SCENARIO TIME
Four-year-old Billy wandered away from the campgrounds and became lost in the woods. Though he had been told to stay put if he got lost, his anxiety grew as the sun set, prompting him to attempt to find his way back to camp.
As he made his way, Billy encountered an embankment and slid down it. Terrified, he hesitated to move further, fearing that he might slip and tumble down the remainder of the hill.
AFRS - Our advanced thermal imaging technology ensures clear visibility even in complete darkness. In this scenario, Billy is clearly visible on the side of a dirt hill from an aerial perspective, thanks to our thermal imaging sensors.
Once we pinpoint Billy's location using our lasers and relay the information to the ground team, our speaker system enables our drone pilot to communicate with Billy, reassuring him that help is on the way.
Elevate Your Safety Measures with AFRS
Contact us today and seamlessly integrate AFRS into your agency safety strategies. Our presence not only enhances the safety and efficiency of your community but also offers a superior alternative to managing your independent drone program.
To learn more about AFRS, see the links below:
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Get an in-depth understanding of AFRS's mission, values, and the services we offer.
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How AFRS compliments your community?
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Explore the ways in which AFRS can enhance your community's emergency response capabilities and contribute to public safety.
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Why should your community use our emergency services?
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Learn more about our training and professional skills that compliment community safety plans.
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GIVING BACK
COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES
Our Community Services
When our volunteer staff are not handling emergency calls, we believe in helping out the community with various needs that would benefit from our amazing equipment and skilled firefighter pilots.
These service are free to the community but need the love and support of everyone to keep them available.
Below are some of the situations we help with:
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Animal Rescues
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Farmers and livestock
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School demonstrations
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Firefighter PTSD career opportunities
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Public demonstrations and meet N greets
To learn more, checkout our community section.
Recent News
VOLUNTEERS
YOU MATTER! Join AFRS and Make a Difference At AFRS, we believe that many hands make light work, and your talents and wisdom can help us provide amazing emergency services to those in need. We take pride in offering remote-friendly opportunities, respecting the time you dedicate to others. In many cases, you can volunteer from the comfort of your home. Please note that all volunteers are subject to background checks and license verification where applicable. Interested persons should send their resume and cover letter to todd.may@afrs.us Current Volunteer Positions Available: BOARD MEMBERS Our bylaws require all board members to have active/retired experience in Fire, EMS, peace officers, military, or be actively employed by a national infrastructure organization (hospital, transportation, utilities, etc). Board members should be able to: Effectively communicate Work remotely Participate in committees Promote AFRS Attend monthly meetings (remotely) Board members can expect: Regular email communication Attendance at monthly online board meetings Acting in the best interest of AFRS Occasional attendance at functions or group meetings with AFRS customers/vendors Minimum term of office: 3 years The ideal candidate for this position would have prior board experience and uphold high moral standards. FIREFIGHTERS AFRS relies on Ohio certified firefighters to operate our public safety grade drones. Fire pilots should be able to: Perform regular firefighter duties. - Waivers may be possible in some cases Work remotely without direct supervision Attend monthly meetings (remotely) Operate electronic devices and computers Hold an active Fire 1/2 certification Hold or obtain an FAA 107 pilot's license with night ops certification Have a clean driving record and valid driver's license Function in high-stress environments and dynamic situations Fire pilots can expect: 12-hour shifts (0600-1800 or 1800-0600) No more than 36 hours of volunteer/work per week Exposure to elements and dynamic situations Rewarding training and experiences Life insurance and LOD benefits Disability/injury benefits Remote-friendly environment in many cases Leadership buy-in and genuine appreciation Live drone prophecy test The ideal candidate for this position would be a certified firefighter who holds a FAA 107 license and NFPA 2400 training. Considerations will be made to train up the right candidates to become drone pilots and obtain their NFPA 2400 training. Candidates should also be passionate about their community and eager to learn new technologies that enhance public safety. DISPATCHERS AFRS recognizes the vital role that dispatchers play in our success. They are the "voice" that enables amazing things to happen within our organization. AFRS dispatchers have the ability to work from home anywhere in the United States. Dispatchers should be able to: Effectively communicate via voice, text, and email Have moderate or advanced computer skills Work alone and unsupervised without micro-management Adhere to policies and procedures Provide a stable/reliable internet connection from home Provide a stable/reliable Windows PC, Chromebook, or Android tablet Maintain a quiet background when handling telephone or radio activities Utilize web-based tools such as Google Maps, Open Maps, weather apps, chat, video conference, and others Dispatchers can expect: Flexible shifts that suit your availability No more than 36 hours per week Fast-paced and rewarding environment Communicating with other government agencies on recorded lines Remote-friendly environment for anyone based in the US Leadership that truly values your contributions Making a difference in others' lives and enhancing community safety Regular training and one-on-one mentoring Ideal candidates for this position include individuals passionate about serving the public and eager to learn new skills. SOCIAL MEDIA / VIDEO EDITING AFRS's emergency robotics capture a vast amount of data, including photos and videos that may need to be processed for marketing, fundraising, and training purposes. This remote-friendly position is open to volunteers anywhere in the United States. Social media volunteers should be able to: Perform post-processing of video content Interact with various social media platforms (TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) Process messages and respond professionally Review statistical data from each social media platform and relay trends to leadership Create slideshows or collections for gallery display or training purposes Resize, edit, crop, and alter images and video Attend monthly membership meetings Accomplish tasks without direct supervision Social media volunteers can expect: Flexible schedules that fit your life No more than 36 hours per week Team environment Remote-friendly - Work from home Interested persons should send their resume and cover letter to todd.may@afrs.us
