Downbeach fire departments have been advised to avoid contact with any potential downed drones amid sightings in areas of New Jersey.
The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety issued an Intelligence Briefing last week to advise firefighters of new guidelines for any potential downed UAS (unmanned aerial systems) they might encounter.
No downed UAS have been reported, but officials are concerned there could be a vigilante-type response to a sighting in an effort to bring one down.
The bulletin advises against approaching a downed drone, and instead advises firefighters to isolate the area, establish a 330-foot perimeter and wear personal protective equipment.
If they encounter a downed UAS, fire response teams should contact local law enforcement, request the bomb squad and the local hazmat team, and notify the FBI. Local hazmat teams are instructed to follow established environmental safeguards, including for radiation monitoring and protection.
The advisory notes that electronic devices, such as two-way radios, could malfunction near a downed drone.
Firefighters are trained to report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities because it could involve terrorism or targeted violence, the notice states.
Although local law enforcement has not received any credible reports from the public about drone sightings, they are becoming increasingly common in video postings on social media.
One video shows a possible drone sighting over the backbay area of Longport. Turns out it was a military helicopter.
Others have posted videos of drones on local Facebook pages. One woman reported that she saw one fly over the Ventnor Fishing Pier. Another poster reported seeing one flying over the Ventnor Heights area. Still another reported seeing two drones flying over Lucy the Elephant.
One individual who did not wish to be identified said people who never bothered to notice what is going on above their homes are now looking up into the sky and seeing drones.
That might have something to do with the millions of drones sold as Christmas presents over the last several years, or it could be how much drone technology has advanced at the commercial and military levels.
“These days, everyone is looking up at the sky, but it’s hard to tell how big these drones actually are. If they were nefarious, they wouldn’t be flashing red and green lights,” one person said.
We’re waiting for the time when all the drones get together to spell out “Surrender Dorothy.”
Copyright Access Network 2024
