A mini-tornado swept through the town of Le Crès, near Montpellier in the Hérault department, last night. Roofs were torn off, a conservatory was destroyed and part of the roof of a large shop was even "collapsed", according to a local media outlet.
Firefighters from the Hérault Fire and Rescue Service have been on call since last night. At first light, the brand-new drone reconnaissance and investigation unit – CRID 34 – was deployed for the first time. It comprises remote pilots who hold the necessary qualifications, taught in particular at the Civil Security Training Centre – EcASC Valabre – in Gardanne, near Aix-en-Provence (13).
Batteries charged, phone plugged in – and get ready for take-off!
In recent years, the fire service has been getting to grips with drones for reconnaissance missions. SDIS 34, one of the largest fire and rescue services in France, has taken the lead by officially launching this unit a few days ago.
It takes less than five minutes to deploy these lightweight aircraft, which are capable of capturing high-definition photos and videos. These images are essential in helping emergency services to observe, analyse and decide on the rescue and safety measures to be put in place.
SDIS 34
SDIS 34
SDIS 34