Drones help with public safety

https://www.newsledge.com/drones-public-safety-technology/

"NYFD’s interest in drone technology was initially sparked by the 2014 East Harlem gas explosion which killed eight. A local sent up his personal drone which captured an excellent overview of the scene. Two years of research and development later, the NYFD had its own."

Well duh.  When you have a cheap observer that can flit about above from all angles, of course you can see better what it going on.