A coordinated effort between the Prescott Fire Department and the Prescott Police Department’s Technical Support Unit (TSU) led to the successful rescue of an injured hiker in the Granite Dells on March 28.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the TSU responded to the Granite Gardens area to assist fire department personnel in locating the hiker. The TSU is a specialized joint team of Prescott police and fire personnel trained in small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) operations.
A TSU drone operator deployed an unmanned aerial system and quickly located the injured hiker. The operator then provided real-time guidance to ground crews, directing them to the hiker’s exact location in the rugged terrain.
The rapid response allowed rescuers to reach the individual quickly and provide necessary medical aid.
Officials credit the TSU’s drone capabilities with significantly reducing search time and improving outcomes in rescue operations, especially in remote and challenging areas of the Prescott Dells.