10/13/2026
UAS- Response
At approximately 5:00 p.m. yesterday, LR Fire received a request for mutual aid drone deployment in the 1300 block of Curbow Road, northwest of White City, Missouri. The incident involved a significant natural cover fire accompanied by a structural fire, with the Highlandville Fire Protection District serving as the primary responding department.
Piloted by Captain Wescoat, our unmanned aerial system (UAS) was deployed to deliver critical tactical intelligence to the Incident Commander. Captain Wescoat utilized the aerial platform to identify hidden thermal hot spots, provide situational awareness, and safely navigate ground crews through the operating environment. Aerial surveillance enabled Captain Wescoat to rapidly detect two distinct fire line breaches and efficiently direct personnel to secure them.
We commend the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies in mitigating this incident and remain committed to leveraging advanced technology to enhance firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.
As captured in the incident photos below, the aerial perspective provided an invaluable vantage point for monitoring fire spread and directing ground suppression efforts.
