Victoria Fire crews used a new specially-equipped drone for the first time Monday.
The drone -- which has a state-of-the-art thermal imaging camera -- was deployed over a blaze that destoryed a heritage home on McClure St. Monday.
Deputy Chief Dan Atkinson told CTV Vancouver Island the footage provided crews with views they've never seen before, helping reveal where the hot spots were and other areas of concern:
" You can see here this is the McClure fire that we attended. You can see where it's breaking through the roof. And we were able to take this information and watch it in real time at the incident command post, and then direct the people in the aerial aparatus where their fire streams are going to be most effective for the event."
The drone cost about $25-thousand dollars, and Victoria Firfe Department is hoping it will help save lives and property.
Drones are already used by Langford Fire and Rescue to locate missing hikers, and Saanich Police have been mapping vehicle crash sites.