Drones provided to Plymouth Fire Department already proving useful operations

Friday, January 2, 2026 at 3:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Two drones recently acquired by the Plymouth Fire Department through the Marshall County Safety Grant are already proving their value in emergency operations, Fire Chief Steve Holm reported to the Board of Public Works and Safety.

One of the drones was deployed on December 22 to assist the Plymouth Police Department in searching for a missing person. The operation utilized the drones' thermal-imaging cameras to aid in the search.

"They are coming in handy already," Chief Holm told board members.

The Plymouth Fire Department anticipates at least five licensed drone operators, allowing for broader use of the equipment across multiple agencies. The drones can be utilized by any fire department in Marshall County that has a licensed operator on staff.

Applications extend beyond firefighting to include fire investigations, assistance to police agencies, and support for the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency.

The drones represent a shared resource for Marshall County emergency services, available to multiple agencies when needed. The thermal-imaging capability makes them particularly valuable for search operations and fire scene assessment.

The two drones were purchased through Marshall County's safety grant program, which provides funding for equipment to enhance emergency response capabilities to the Fire Departments in the county. The thermal-imaging cameras can detect heat signatures, making them useful for locating people, assessing fire conditions, and identifying hot spots.

In other business, Chief Holm requested permission to solicit bids for a new department vehicle to replace the current chief's SUV. The existing vehicle would be transferred to another position within the department.

The board granted the chief’s request to seek bids, and Chief Holm said he will be sending requests out to three dealerships.