DFR for Fire: How San Bernardino County is Replacing Million-Dollar Trucks with Drones

Episode notes

[This episode was recorded on May 20, 2025. Some references may reflect information available at that time.] Public safety agencies often treat drones as supplemental tools, useful but optional. Jeff Alexy challenges that mindset. Drawing from real incidents in San Bernardino County, Jeff explains how drones are now being used as true first responders. In one case, a drone was dispatched instead of a fire engine to a “fire type unknown,” identifying a simple cooking fire and resolving the situation remotely, saving time, money, and critical resources. In another, thermal drones located injured hikers in under a minute when helicopters were unavailable, proving unmanned systems can outperform traditional air assets in time‑critical scenarios. Jeff also shares his work with the FAA to deploy a 3,000‑pound, 84‑foot wingspan drone capable of flying 24/7, 365 days a year over San Bernardino County. Designed for sustained aerial situational awareness, this program represents a major shift in how large jurisdictions monitor fires, accidents, and emerging threats at scale.