Violet Township Selected for Statewide Drone Pilot Program

Violet Township Selected for Statewide Drone Pilot Program

DriveOhio has selected nine public safety agencies, including Violet Township Fire/EMS (Fairfield County), to participate in Ohio’s first statewide Drone First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program.

Led by ODOT and DriveOhio, the program will equip agencies with state-approved drones capable of rapid launch and real-time video streaming to improve situational awareness, enhance responder safety, and reduce response times. Participating agencies represent urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state and will begin onboarding in early 2026, with operations launching in the spring for a yearlong evaluation.

State leaders say the initiative positions Ohio at the forefront of public safety innovation while providing first responders with cutting-edge tools to better serve their communities. For more information, click here.

This first appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of the Ohio Township News magazine. Contact the OTA at communications@ohiotownships.org to submit your township stories.