Drones Implemented to Help Fight Fire at Motel in Easley

The Easley Fire Department responded to a fire at the Quality Inn on Calhoun Memorial Highway on Monday morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and people inside the hotel were safely evacuated.

To manage the situation, the Easley Fire Department used a drone that provided a bird’s-eye view of the scene and helped locate hot spots, guiding water streams to extinguish the fire more effectively.

Stephen Baxley, the Drone Program Coordinator and Chief Pilot with the Easley Police Department, said that the drone program has six drones that can be used for various calls, such as missing persons and SWAT situations.

The drone’s thermal imaging capabilities allowed fire crews to see through smoke and isolate hot spots for a more efficient response. Baxley added that using drones can save lives more quickly and make the response more efficient.