Limburg fire department launches 2 drones for emergencies

Sarhan Basem
Credit: VRT

Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Limburg fire department now uses two drones in Hasselt and Tessenderlo to respond faster to emergencies. Commander Bert Swisen says the drones provide live video, helping teams plan better and stay safe. A pilot project, funded by 2023 subsidies, will expand to six drones.

The fire department in Limburg has started using two new drones, based in Hasselt and Tessenderlo. These drones help the fire department respond better to emergencies. When there is a fire or an accident, the drones are immediately sent out to check the situation before the firefighters arrive.

Trained operators control the drones. The drones have high-quality cameras. These cameras take live video of the scene. This video goes straight to the fire department’s control centre. The leaders can see what is happening in real-time. 

According to Bert Swisen, the regional commander, this technology helps the team understand how serious the situation is. It also helps them decide how to respond. They can choose the right team and equipment to send. This makes sure they use their resources wisely.

How are drones revolutionising emergency responses in Limburg?

The fire department has started using drones to help with emergencies. This new method makes their response faster. According to authorities, this helps them save time that they would usually spend checking the area. The teams can make better decisions and change their response based on what they see. The drones also help keep emergency workers safer because they know about possible dangers in advance.

“The drones are controlled remotely and the images are sent to us, so we get an idea of the location before the emergency services arrive,”

Explains Regional Commander Bert Swisen.

Many people have concerns about the use of drones by emergency services. They worry about their privacy and being filmed without their permission. Some people think that drones might be used for spying or watching people too much.

Regional commander Bert Swisen has explained that the fire brigade only uses drones for urgent situations. The main purpose of the drones is to help with emergency calls. Swisen assures the public that there are no plans to use drones for regular patrols or monitoring people in general.

Swisen highlights that, for example, they can help check how serious a fire is, find people in danger, or look at unsafe situations. The pictures taken by the drones are only for helping with emergency work. 

He mentioned that drones are not used for anything else. This message aims to calm public fears and build trust. He assures that drones are a tool to make everyone safer and not invade anyone’s privacy.

“The intention is not to use them preventively. We will only use the drones for calls that we receive via the emergency number, for example. People do not need to worry about that,”

Swisen says.

The fire department in Limburg is getting ready to start a pilot project using drones to help with emergencies. This plan includes using six drones in different parts of the province to improve how quickly they can respond to emergencies. The project received funding from subsidies given at the end of 2023, which helped cover the costs of the technology. 

At first, the South-West Limburg fire zone was unsure about joining the project because they had questions about the rules and how it would work. However, after they learned more about the regulations and how the project would operate, they chose to participate in 2023.

After joining the program, the South-West Limburg fire zone had to do a lot of work to get ready and follow the rules. The team worked hard to meet the regulations, train their staff, and include the drones in their emergency response system. 

Regional commander Bert Swisen mentioned that there were many questions at the beginning, but the new rules helped them feel more confident about moving forward. The fire department focused on planning how to use the drones, setting up the technology, and making sure the drones could be used easily during emergencies. 

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
Share This Article
Follow:
Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
The Brussels Morning Newspaper Logo

Subscribe for Latest Updates