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COVERAGE AREA

Crowd at a concert

Use Case- Event Safety

USE CASE - Event Safety

Scenario Overview:
In this emergency scenario, peace officers, fire personnel, and city leaders must respond to a report of a man seen with a gun waving it around at a large concert event. The event features open alcohol sales and has an estimated 5,000 people in attendance. This scenario demands a coordinated and strategic response to ensure the safety of concertgoers and to mitigate the potential threat.

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Scenario Details:

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Event Details:

  • The concert is taking place at an outdoor venue with a stage and seating area.

  • The event has open alcohol sales, and some attendees are visibly intoxicated.

  • Concertgoers are of diverse ages and backgrounds.
     

Incident Description:

  • A concerned concert attendee has reported a man in the crowd brandishing a firearm and behaving aggressively.

  • The report indicates that the individual is moving through the crowd and causing panic.

  • Panic has resulted in minor injuries, and there are potential threats to the safety of thousands of attendees.
     

Response Actions:

  1. Initial Response (dispatch officer):

    • Receive multiple emergency calls regarding the armed individual at the concert.

    • Dispatch peace officers and fire personnel to the scene.

    • Notify city leaders and event organizers of the ongoing situation.
       

  2. Unified Command Setup (incident commander):

    • Establish a unified command post to coordinate the response.

    • Collaborate with city leaders and event organizers for situational awareness.

    • Prioritize the safety of concertgoers and responders.
       

  3. Crowd Management (incident commander and peace officers):

    • Assess the location and behavior of the armed individual within the crowd.

    • Deploy peace officers to maintain order, secure the area, and identify the suspect.

    • Communicate with event security and organizers to facilitate the response.
       

  4. Threat Assessment (peace officers):

    • Assess the level of threat posed by the armed individual.

    • Develop a plan for safe disarmament or apprehension, considering the safety of all involved.
       

  5. Evacuation and Shelter (fire personnel):

    • Plan and execute the evacuation of concertgoers to designated safe areas.

    • Provide medical assistance to injured individuals, both in the crowd and at evacuation points.

    • Ensure the availability of medical supplies and personnel.
       

  6. Communication and Public Safety (public information officer):

    • Maintain clear and timely communication with concertgoers through public address systems.

    • Disseminate information on safety procedures, evacuation routes, and shelter locations.

    • Keep the public and media informed to prevent panic.
       

  7. Peace Officer Response:

    • Identify and locate the armed suspect, utilizing crowd control tactics.

    • Approach the individual with caution and attempt to de-escalate the situation.

    • Prepare for the safe apprehension and disarmament of the suspect.
       

  8. Resource Management (logistics chief):

    • Request additional peace officers and fire personnel if needed.

    • Manage resource allocation, including personnel, equipment, and medical supplies.

    • Establish staging areas for coordinating response efforts.
       

  9. Investigation and Accountability (investigating officer and city leaders):

    • Conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including the armed individual's motives and actions.

    • Address any legal actions and hold individuals accountable for their actions.

    • Review and revise event security protocols and alcohol sales regulations for future public gatherings.
       

Conclusion:
This emergency scenario presents a critical situation at a large concert event, where a report of an armed individual has created panic among thousands of attendees. A coordinated response by peace officers, fire personnel, and city leaders is essential to ensure public safety, manage the crowd, and address the threat effectively. Effective communication, threat assessment, and incident investigation are key components of managing such incidents.
 

How could AFRS fire pilots benefit this coordinated effort?
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FAA Collaboration
AFRS maintains a close relationship with the FAA, enabling rapid requests for Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) around emergency scenes.

Based on IC needs, AFRS would file the appropriate request with the FAA to shutdown the airspace near this event.   AFRS staff would handle the request, coordinates, maps, and other information required for this request.
 

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Interagency Communication
Unlike private drone pilots, AFRS maintains a contract with MARCS. 


AFRS dispatch and/or pilot could communicate directly with agency and/or field staff.

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Rapid Response
AFRS, when in full operation, can mobilize up to four additional pilots who can arrive on the scene within approximately 30 minutes.  This is due to our strategic coverage areas and preplanning measures.

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Based on incident needs, IC can request more resources from AFRS.    AFRS will call in nearby zones to expand the services required for the incident at hand.

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Drone Fleet
AFRS maintains a fleet of drones and has working relationships with various vendors.

In the event of an emergency situation, AFRS can summon our pilots from other regions to assist with emergency robotics in hand and ready to fly.

In the event the event preplanning outlines the use of several drones for additional video coverage of the event, our existing relationship with vendors allows us to rapidly obtain the required equipment in 1-2 days and carry out any required FAA regulations regarding inspections or licensing of the aircraft prior to the event date.
 

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Visual Deterrent
AFRS policy is to operate our aircraft anti-collision strobes for all flights.    Where these strobes can be seen from 3 statute miles distance per FAA regulations.  In the case of a bad actor wanting to do harm to others, the ability for the crowd to see the drone in the air may deter unwanted behavior.

In addition to the strobes, AFRS public safety grade drones are substantially larger than consumer grade drones.    Most common people would believe that the drone is for official use.

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Enhanced Visual Capability
The AFRS video zoom capabilities allow us to pinpoint persons within the crowd from great distances of up to 1 mile away.

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In addition to our zoom capabilities, we have the ability to automatically track persons or objects that are moving.   This helps lessen the burden on the fire pilot from manually controlling the aircraft or camera controls.​

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Thermal Imaging
AFRS's thermal imaging technology can easily spot persons hiding or preparing to ambush others or first responders.

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Combine this ability with our lasers that can pinpoint the position of a suspect on earth, and we can easily relay the exact coordinates to peace officers who can strategically plan their response route.

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Effective Public Address System
Our drone based speaker system with LRAD technology can be used to notify crowds of exit paths in the event the shooter carries out a crime.

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All-Weather Equipment
AFRS employs enterprise-level public safety drones capable of operating in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, high winds, and freezing temperatures.

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Continuous Flight Time

Each AFRS pilot carries sufficient batteries and onboard mobile charging to maintain near-continuous flight. Quick battery swaps allow for a 45-second downtime between flights.

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Seamless Collaboration

AFRS vehicles are equipped with redundant internet connections, utilizing Firstnet and other data providers. This ensures secure streaming of content to incident command despite cell towers being overloaded by the other participants at the event.

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Documentation and Review
All drone footage is recorded for post-incident analysis. Detailed video timestamps and coordinates enable easy documentation of important milestones.

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Training Resources
Archived videos remain accessible for years after the incident. This valuable resource allows your team to incorporate real-life scenarios into future training sessions and benefits first responders worldwide.

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AFRS Capabilities

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This short video highlights our capabilities and common scenarios faced in the field.

DONATIONS

Thank you for considering a tax deductible donation to AFRS FD
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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

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