CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Over the past several years, drones have been giving Chesterfield Fire and EMS an aerial view of scenes when calls come in, a tool proving to be an essential part of their toolbox.

“I don’t even know how to put into words just the amount of impact it gets,” said Battalion Chief William Marsiglio. “Every day, we’re learning new ways to use it.”

In 2015, conversations took place to bring the drone program to Chesterfield. Years later, the idea became a reality.

“We’re using them on initially for brush fires and house fires, where we can have a thermal imaging view of what we’re seeing through the smoke so we can help direct crews on where things are occurring,” said Marsiglio.

The first official flight for the drone program took place in 2018 when a tornado tor

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