According to a Facebook post, the Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) has launched a new drone response initiative that will allow unmanned aircraft to deploy to emergency scenes ahead of fire crews. Officials say the program will improve situational awareness, safety, and efficiency. At the same time, the expansion of aerial technology into routine public safety operations is likely to draw continued public interest around privacy and oversight.
The program operates in partnership with Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) and the City of Fort Collins Utilities. Three drones are mounted on the roofs of local fire stations, two at Station 1 and one at Station 5, and can be launched directly through the 911 dispatch system.
How the Drones Work
When a call comes in, dispatchers and trained personnel determine whether deploying a drone is appropriate. The aircraft can fly up to 40 miles per hour and remain airborne for about 30 minutes. In many cases, they arrive before the first engine company and transmit live video back to pilots and responding crews.
The drones provide an initial size up of conditions, confirming whether there are active flames, visible smoke, hazardous materials, traffic hazards, or potential medical emergencies. Thermal imaging allows crews to detect heat signatures, which can help locate patients, identify hotspots in grass fires, or assess fire spread.
The department is using the Skydio X10 model manufactured by Skydio. The aircraft include obstacle avoidance systems, visual sensors, and onboard parachutes designed to slow descent in the event of a mechanical failure.
Officials report the Drone as a First Responder system has already been used on several live calls and has helped provide scene awareness.
Deployment Standards
Fort Collins officials say there are no specific call types that automatically trigger deployment. Instead, drones may be used on both lower priority calls and high priority emergencies when additional scene intelligence could improve safety or reduce unnecessary resource deployment.
Officials note, pilots from PFA, FCPS, and the drone provider are available to monitor flights or assume control if necessary. Navigation is integrated with GIS mapping and the 911 system.
Privacy and Policy Framework
Drone operations involving police coordination are governed by FCPS Policy 311, the department’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations policy. The policy states that UAS use must comply with constitutional protections, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, and applicable case law.
Absent a warrant or “exigent circumstances”, operators may not intentionally record areas where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Personnel are required to take reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently capturing private areas, such as adjusting or disabling cameras when appropriate.
Drones may fly over private property while en route to calls. Officials say they will “rarely” hover over residences unless legally justified under state and constitutional standards.
The policy also requires FAA certified Remote Pilots in Command, annual legal and operational training, documentation of all missions, established maintenance procedures, and annual reporting to police executive staff. A UAS Program Coordinator appointed by the Chief of Police oversees compliance and program management.
Data Retention and Transparency
According to officials, drone footage is stored in a Criminal Justice Information Services compliant platform, Evidence.com, in accordance with the Colorado Records Management and Retention Schedule. Recordings may be used for investigations, evidence, training, or communications, with identifying information excluded when used publicly.
Drone footage is subject to public records requests under Colorado law.
Efficiency vs. Civil Liberties
PFA frames the drone initiative as a safety enhancement that gives firefighters better information before stepping into potentially dangerous situations. From an operational standpoint, pre-arrival intelligence can reduce risk and improve resource allocation.
At the same time, aerial surveillance technology, even when deployed for emergency responses, expands the government’s ability to observe from above. In many communities, that capability has sparked debate over proportionality, oversight mechanisms, public transparency, and long-term data governance.
For Fort Collins residents, the key questions may not be whether drones are useful in emergencies, but how narrowly they are used, how transparently they are reported, and how consistently privacy protections are enforced over time, particularly as other systems, including the Flock camera network, are being scrutinized.