Robotics, drone lessons for Long Island first responders

When a parking garage collapsed two years ago in lower Manhattan, an FDNY robotic dog was the first to comb through the wreckage.

The garage, which collapsed next to Pace University and killed one person, was too dangerous for firefighters to enter to search for survivors. So firefighters used the robotic dog equipped with cameras to survey the damage.

Fire officials said the robotics and drones used by the department have become a signature part of responding to emergencies. The FDNY is now training first responders from Long Island and around the world how to use the new technology to save lives.

"What these allow us to do is hopefully save the lives of first responders who cannot go into a treacherous collapse  situation like one down in lower Manhattan," FDNY Capt. Mike Leo said. "These are the first responders into treacherous situations like that."

 The FDNY partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, for a three-day drone and robotics training at Fort Totten in Bayside, Queens. The Tuesday through Thursday training included the NYPD, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Nassau County police, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and fire departments from Syosset and Mineola as well as Suffolk Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.

The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office has 10 drone operators and can use drones to search for fugitives, to protect officers while surveying evictions, or for large-scale events like the Palm Tree Music Festival in the Hamptons.

"Drones have been a huge asset to us — helping us locate missing individuals, executing search warrants, securing our facilities and even helping us in the recent wildfires," Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said on Tuesday. "These technologies are constantly evolving making these trainings and partnerships even more critical so we can continue to use it to the best of our abilities."

Nassau police have 27 licensed drone pilots who are used during large events and investigations.

The FDNY also deploys drones at every second-alarm or greater fire they respond to, fire officials said.

Fire officials said drones were used to assess roof heat and provide aerial views of fires or incidents. Previously the department had relied on images from NYPD helicopters.

Drones were used last year during the Prospect Park fire and last month on April 10 when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board.

Although drone pilots must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration, officials said, there is no national standard set for emergency agencies. The FDNY said it partnered with NIST to ensure proper training and to coordinate with other agencies.

"It's now an essential part of the technology that we use at all emergencies, especially at fire scenes," FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said on Tuesday. "Technology today is emerging as one of the most critical aspects of fire ground operations and the things that we will learn today, the things that we will teach today, are all going to save lives."

Drone operators have been growing among Long Island fire departments. Mineola has 21 certified drone operators while Syosset has five pilots, with more than a dozen others in training, fire officials said.

"This is something we can use for the fire department to help situational awareness and incident commanders at the scene," said Carl Nunziata, a former Mineola fire captain who helps lead the drone program. "It helps us see where the fire is and where we need to direct water to knock it down."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.