Jamaica Fire Brigade certifies 14 firefighters as first drone operators after St. Mary training

Fourteen members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade have become the organisation's first officially certified drone operators after completing a week-long training programme in unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

The graduation ceremony, held recently in St. Mary, concluded the Brigade's inaugural UAV course. Over the intensive week, participants gained practical and theoretical knowledge on how drones can support firefighting, search and rescue missions, disaster damage assessments, and related emergency work.

Through the initiative, the Jamaica Fire Brigade is formally establishing UAV capabilities in key operational areas. Officials said the technology will improve situational awareness, support incident command, strengthen search and rescue efforts, assist with disaster impact assessments, and make emergency responses safer and more efficient.

By increasing the number of trained drone operators, emergency teams should be able to gather critical information faster, improve decision-making, enhance firefighter safety, and deliver more effective responses to emergencies across the island.

Speaking at the graduation, an official told the new operators that the knowledge and practical skills they acquired would allow teams to gather critical information more quickly, make better operational decisions, and deploy resources more effectively during emergencies. The official noted that emergency management is becoming increasingly technology-driven, and the graduates will play a vital role in helping the organisation navigate that future.

Drones already serve as valuable tools for emergency responders. They can provide live aerial views of smoke plumes, fire scenes, and disaster zones that may be too hazardous for ground crews to reach. Many units carry thermal imaging cameras capable of detecting heat signatures through thick smoke and darkness, making them especially useful for night-time operations and search missions.