“The SUAS machines will greatly enhance our ability to bring quick resolve in finding lost children, hikers, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and injured people,” said Captain Keith Dinn, Support Services Assistant Commander. “The training and expertise our certified pilots have received gives me confidence that our officers and other emergency responding agencies will have a much higher rate of success in locating citizens in need with a much quicker response time.”

Currently, five Indiana Conservation Officers have become certified pilots of the SUAS machines and will be prepared for statewide response. The DNR Law Enforcement Division has two SUAS units with future goals of adding more to the fleet.

Along with the ability to locate lost citizens, the SUAS will map out the obstacles for the emergency response personnel and provide knowledge of dangers before encountering the obstacle.

“I could not be more proud of our agency as we make this innovative and futuristic step forward to enhance our search and rescue response capabilities to reach our citizens in need,” stated Danny L. East, DNR Law Enforcement Director.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Star EMS unit was slowly proceeding through a red light on northbound Milford Road around 8:30 p.m. when a 22-year-old Fenton woman in a Chevrolet Silverado traveling westbound on M-59 passed through the intersection on a green light and the two collided. The ambulance was enroute to an emergency run with lights and sirens activated.

The driver of the Silverado was transported to McLaren Hospital in Pontiac where she is listed in serious condition. The ambulance driver, a 41-year-old Highland Township man, and his 55-year-old passenger, of Springfield Township, were both taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Pontiac where both men are listed in stable condition.

Troopers say there were no patients inside the ambulance at the time. Two workers were taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

There are two buildings on the site; the original brick and mortar station built in 1987 and the newer metal building built in 2012. Grant funds have already been used to begin the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the old firehouse. They found asbestos and lead-based paint inside. The new building will not be assessed.

The ESA and survey will address the old fire station and the underlying soil by identifying potential or existing environmental contamination which could require cleanup or abatement to protect public health and the environment. Jenkins said the property the station is sitting on now was home to a service station in the 1940s.

“We’re not sure if the original tank is still in the ground,” Jenkins said.

The original station houses firetrucks and is used for storage. ADEQ went through the building to see if was still able to be used as an operational building.

“There’s no human occupation at all,” Jenkins said.

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