“It is in fact where search and rescue especially in the wilderness areas is heading. Before we’re out there we can search massive areas of terrain.” –Roman Bukary of Douglas County Search & Rescue

Score one for the drones! Douglas County Search & Rescue teams used a drone to help locate two men who got lost on a hike in area of the Pike National Forest known as ‘Devil’s Head’ on Thursday. A combination of cellphone pings and unmanned aircraft helped the crew to find the men and bring them back to safety in just a few hours.

If you’re local search and rescue team doesn’t yet have drone at their disposal, you should probably ask why and do what you can to get one added. As you can see, drones can be an invaluable tool for increasing the speed of a search, accessing conditions on the ground and making operations safer for all involved.