Revolutionizing Hazmat Operations: Drones in Fire Service with Rich Gatanis

In this episode of DroneCast, host Joe Kearns interviews Rich Gatanis, UAS Coordinator at Southern Manatee Fire Rescue, to unpack the groundbreaking applications of drone technology in hazardous material environments. Rich shares his unique journey from a banking career to becoming a firefighter post-9/11, and how that experience fuels his passion for innovation in public safety. Listeners will hear how his department evolved their drone program since 2015, developing protocols for flammability testing, remote gas monitoring, and air quality assessments—all while improving responder safety and reducing personnel exposure to toxic conditions. Rich also outlines the strategic process of gaining buy-in, documenting testing procedures, and scaling these use cases into real-world deployment. This episode offers critical insights for public safety leaders, hazmat responders, and drone innovators looking to responsibly integrate unmanned systems into their operations. Interested in being a guest on Dronecast ? Fill out our Podcast Guest Questionnaire . Listen to more episodes on the official podcast website: Dronecast by DroneSense. Ready to enhance your drone program? Get Started with DroneSense . Episode Highlights: [00:00] Intro: Rethinking Public Safety with Drones [01:42] From Banking to Fire Service: A Career Change Story [03:51] Early Days of Drone Integration in Fire Rescue [06:06] Overcoming Administrative and Regulatory Challenges [11:20] Pioneering Drone Safety Testing in Hazmat Environments [14:12] Innovative Uses of Drones in Indoor Operations [15:24] Advanced Air Monitoring and Chemical Detection [18:51] Case Study: The Florida Volcano Incident [21:10] Drone Applications in Disaster Response and Mapping [22:43] Outro and Preview of Part 2 Dronecast: Rethinking Public Safety, One Drone at a Time Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so Previous Guests include: Matt Rowland, Jason Burnside Check out our 3 most downloaded episodes: Revolutionizing Emergency Response: Chris Lester on Drones in EMS Navigating Drone Program Challenges: Lessons from George Mason University Navigating the Future of Counter-Drone Operations: Insights from Jack Venables Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn