Hanover Township Fire Department Junior Harr, drone pilot is flanked by Lt. Tyler Roush, who built the command trailer that holds the department’s drone collection, and firefighter/EMT Chris Keller. With two drones already under their collective belt, the department is expected to add a third one in August. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

HANOVERTON — Very few fire departments can boast having one drone in its firefighting arsenals let alone multiple drones.

According to Hanover Township Fire Chief Frank Baker, his department purchased their first drone in 2022 and added a second one two years due to the constantly improving technology. Hanover Township trustees saw a demonstration about an upgraded one last month and are expected to add a third drone in the very future.

Township trustees appear to be “all in” with equipping firefighters with the best technology money can buy.

A recently built mobile command trailer had been in service for six months, partially funded by Columbiana County Commissioners, for storage of the department’s drone equipment and a side-by-side.

Junior Harr, firefighter and the department’s lone licensed drone pilot, explained that the department is looking at adding a new drone would not only have thermal imaging capability but also produce higher resolution footage as well as have longer battery life for more lengthy flights.

Harr explained that the area does get its use out of the drones, which were called out 11 last year.

Already as of the end of July, Hanover Township had been called out seven times for its drone by neighboring fire and police departments.

Calls have mostly been-search-and rescue, including twice by Calcutta fire for a lost hiker and a recovered vacant overturned canoe in the water; Highlandtown FD for lost juveniles; the Columbiana County sheriff and the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Last year at Columbiana County Fair time, their drone also was utilized to search for a missing girl.

The drone also allows visual access to fires without jeopardizing any human lives for initial reconnaissance of the scene.

Fire Chief Baker is grateful for the support from residents and government officials that make continued support of the drone program possible.

To reach Hanover Township dispatch, he reminds their non-emergency phone number has changed to 330-424-7255, which is the county dispatch center.