STOW, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Department of Fire Services has added three new drone to  its Special Operations fleet to aid in fire and rescue operations by providing footage from hazardous indoor environments.

According to a statement from the Department of Fire Services, Timothy Gallagher, deputy director of the DFS Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division said, “We try to gather as much information on the hot zone environment as we can before sending a Hazmat technician downrange. The real-time footage from these drones could help us identify hazards or threats, allowing us to form an entry plan that’s safer for our personnel.”