Case Closed! Spire donates thermal drone to support Cahaba Valley Fire District through NPS-DDP.org

WHERE: 145 Narrows Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242

WHEN: April 4, 2022, 10 a.m.

NPS-DDP’s latest donation was a thermal-equipped EVO II to the Cahaba Valley Fire Department near Birmingham, Alabama. NPS-DDP coordinated with a company that had a drone it no longer needed. Spire Energy was using an EVO II with a thermal camera, but their workflows had evolved to the point they no longer required the drone. Rather than dispose of it, they talked to their supplier, who directed them to NPS-DDP.

Their Request

On November 05, 2020, the Cahaba Valley Fire Search and Rescue located in Birmingham Alabama applied to the National Public Safety Drone Donation Program NPS-DDP.org for a drone donation. The department explained why the drone would help protect the communities they serve.
“ CVFD provides fire suppression and emergency medical services including transport to approximately 25,000 customers as well as thousands of drivers traveling the Highway 280 corridor each day. Responding from four stations, CVFD answers around 3,500 calls for assistance each year” Said, Captain Stephen Taylor Gunnells

Final press release_Cahaba Valley

“Eyes in the sky for every department in need" ™

Their Story

To support public safety in the Birmingham area, Spire is donating an unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) thermal drone to help the Cahaba Valley Fire District (CVFD) respond to
emergency situations. The donation will provide the CVFD aerial views during incidents
in difficult areas. The natural gas utility had previously used the medium-sized drone to
inspect their larger storage facilities.

The drone will be flown during the donation event.
“A UAV drone allows a commander to quickly scan an incident scene to determine
hazards and potential victim locations associated with structural and wild-land
firefighting, hazardous materials, water rescue, and wide-area woodland searches,” said
CVFD Captain Stephen Taylor Gunnels. “This drone will also benefit neighboring
agencies in automatic aid responses, including law enforcement.”

The drone will assist the CVFD as they provide fire suppression and emergency medical
services – including transport – to approximately 25,000 customers as well as thousands
of drivers traveling the Highway 280 corridor each day. Responding from four stations,
CVFD answers around 3,500 calls for assistance each year.

CVFD received the donation through the National Public Safety Drone Donation
Program (NPS-DDP). “The National Public Safety Drone Donation Program is proud to
support this donation and help generate awareness around opportunities for public
safety departments, nationally, to apply for a UAV/drone or other hardware and software
at no cost,” said Mark Langley, executive director and CEO of NPS-DDP.
Influential Drones works with NPS-DDP to help secure and facilitate donations.
SkyeBrowse is donating a six-month license of accident reconstruction software to be
used with the drone donation.

“At Spire, safety is a core value, and we are always looking for ways to give back to the
communities we serve,” said Eric Rigdon, Spire’s manager of gas operations. “We work
closely with first responders and are very grateful for the important services they
provide. We are happy to be able to make this donation to the Cahaba Valley Fire District
to assist them in keeping our communities safe.”