In part one of this episode of Dronecast: Rethinking Public Safety, One Drone at a Time, host John McLeod speaks to Jason Burnside, Program Manager for the Austin Fire Department's Robotics Emergency Deployment (RED) Team. They discuss how drones can enhance public safety, make firefighters' jobs easier and safer, the challenges of integrating drones into fire departments, and the future potential of augmented reality and autonomous launching.

With an initial background in theater and acting, Jason shifted to firefighting, where he brought a unique perspective to the RED team. Passionate about aviation and technology, he became deeply involved in integrating drone technology into firefighting. Established in January 2014, the RED team started as a small volunteer group and has grown to 35 pilots. Today, they focus on sharing their expertise and experiences with other agencies, helping them to accelerate their development in emergency response through the innovative use of drones.

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