Check out the Newest Fire Fighting Equipment In Ulster County

Many of us know that our Hudson Valley fire departments have lots of resources when it comes to protecting our community, but you may not realize that in Ulster County, Fire Companies have access to a drone.

Ulster County Fire Departments Have An Amazing Piece of Equipment at the Ready

Drone - Esopus Fire Department via Facebook

When you think about the fire equipment that firefighters use on the job, you are probably thinking about the trucks, the gear, and fire hoses. They may have tankers and other types of fire trucks, but what else is available that might seem out of the ordinary?

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Some Hudson Valley departments have ATVs, and others have boats. You could see how both might help fight a fire in our area. However, one new piece of equipment that is showing up at Ulster County firehouses when needed is not what you might expect, but it makes perfect sense, and that would be a drone with an operator who knows how to use it.

Esopus Fire House via Facebook

The Esopus Fire Department shared that they have used the drone to help them fight a fire.

Just last month, our department was called to investigate reports of smoke in a heavily wooded area. We requested assistance from the County Fire Coordinators, who responded with a trained drone operator. (Esopus Fire Department via Facebook)

According to the post they shared on the Facebook page, the drone was able to quickly locate the source of a fire in a dense wooded area, which meant crews could respond to the location quickly to put out the flames.

So if you live in Ulster County and your local fire department is in your area fighting a fire, don't be surprised if you see a drone.

Old (Very Old) Upstate NY Firehouses Look to New Life!

This is a fun gallery. We found some very old firehouses scattered across Upstate New York. And we see what they are "up to" today. Some are empty and waiting for a second life. Some have been magically transformed into private residences. Some have been turned into commercial use, such as a brewery or coffee shop. Some are still active fire companies! But still, these old fire sentinels live on as a memory of their importance to their home neighborhoods from 50, 75, and even100 years ago.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio