“Another tool to help us keep people safe”: Waterville Fire Department’s drone purchased earlier this spring has already been put to very good use
Offering another vantage point in times of need ... The Waterville Rural Fire Department purchased a drone in the spring of this year to have another “tool to help us keep people safe,” according to long-time Waterville Fire Department volunteer and now drone pilot Jeff Mitchell. The drone, seen sitting on its launch/landing pad in the photo above and hovering just over that pad after taking flight in the photo below, has already been used not only by the Waterville department itself, but also by other agencies, including a most recent call to use its thermal imaging capabilities to help detect hot spots after the July 28 fire at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry processing facility in Postville. Photos by Jennifer Bissell.
by Jennifer Bissell
The Waterville Rural Fire Department recently acquired a new piece of equipment that can help the department volunteers do their job more efficiently and potentially save lives.
The roughly 25-member department purchased a drone this past spring, using money raised from its two annual fundraisers. The new drone has already been utilized by the department itself and to assist other entities, including during the Agri Star Meat and Poultry fire in Postville July 28.
SEEING THE NEED
Jeff Mitchell is a 48-year veteran of the fire department. He said the department began seriously researching drones after a rescue call last fall. The department requested assistance from the Decorah Fire Department, which deployed its own drone to aid in the rescue. After seeing the drone’s benefits, the department explored options for purchasing one of its own. Mitchell said they were fortunate to have funds available from their two annual fundraisers, noting no taxpayer money was used to purchase the drone or any attachments.
They reached out to Mark Collins with DroneXperts in Elkader to purchase the drone and added attachments - a megaphone to communicate clearer, a spotlight, and an attachment to drop items weighing less than five pounds. The drone itself comes with a large controller for the operator to be able to see the scene clearly, as well as a thermal imaging camera. It can take still photos and videos, and has an SD card to store the images. The camera itself has a 200x zoom capability.
HOW TO HELP
The Waterville Ambulance goes on approximately 50 calls a year and the fire department handles 25-30 calls annually. While those numbers may seem small, Mitchell noted their importance in the community during a time of crisis. The fire department holds two fundraisers annually - its pancake breakfast in the spring and its ATV/UTV ride in the fall. They are currently taking registrations for the ride, set for Saturday, September 12. There are three departure times - 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. Registration and more information is available on the Waterville Rural Fire Department Facebook page. The department is also always looking for more volunteers. Mitchell said even if anyone is just interested in learning more about the drone and becoming a drone pilot, he’d be happy to chat with them.
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, September 2, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
