VIDEO: Drone apparently by a firefighter’s intentional direction of water steam from a hose line.
Firefighters are being investigated and the operator of a drone is being investigated after a firefighter aimed a hose line and hit the drone while it was being used to capture video of a fire. Many firefighters viewing other drone perspectives have appreciated the insight gained from above, but at least one firefighter at the scene of the working house fire didn’t appreciate that the fire scene was being captured on video.
John Thompson was flying a drone valued at about $2200 while smoke was pouring out of a 2-story home, and while firefighters were working to extinguish the fire. A firefighter on the second floor aimed his hose at the drone and hit it with a stream of water.
Now the firefighters are being investigated to determine which firefighter may have have intentionally tried to damage the drone. After the water hit, Thompson says the drone and the camera no longer functions properly.
John Thompson’s operation of the drone is also being investigated for the possibility of interference or obstruction of the firefighters’ work at the scene. Thompson states on his Facebook page that the drone was not over anyone’s head.
Coldenham Fire Department was in command of the fire scene. Orange County is located southeast of Poughkeepsie and north of New City.
The reaction to the incident has caused a spirited debate on Thompson’s Facebook page. A lot of comments about privacy, snooping, obstruction, newsworthiness have been drawn into the debate — also presented in the YouTube video’s comments section.
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