Thermal technology helping Provo police get to stranded hikers quicker

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PROVO — The Provo Police Department said thermal technology helped officers save a young man who was lost while hiking Sunday night.

With night approaching and temperatures dropping, police said a drone armed with thermal technology located the lost hiker within minutes.

"He called his parents, who then called us," said Provo Police Sgt. Kreston Bascom.

Bascom said pilots will take the location from the 911 call and program it into the drone.

"We'll use a tool like a drone to evaluate the situation," he said. "Map out an exact location to the person and a route to them."

The technology can find humans quickly with a nearly crystal-clear shot.

"We've saved so much time," Bascom said. "Because in the past, what we've had to do is send our mountain rescue team in there. They assess the situation, radio back."

Thermal technology changing the game

The drone pilot in Sunday's rescue found the young man in 10 minutes.

"It's a game changer," said Capt. Brian Wolken, with Provo Police Department. He said the darker the color, the hotter the item.

"We had a couple of climbers that we had to rescue," he said. "It was pitch black, but we were able to find them with our thermal imaging."

Bascom said some of the drones have speakers attached to them, allowing the pilots to communicate with stranded hikers from the ground. These officers say when the drone is the first responder, it can cut down on response times.

"The sooner we can locate them and offer aid to them, the safer it is for them and the responders," Bascom said.

The drones are also equipped to drop off items like water, a phone, or keys, police said. Police also stress that the drones are for safety and not spying.

In Sunday's rescue, all individuals involved got off the mountain without any injuries.

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Shelby Lofton

Shelby comes to Utah after working for three years at WKYT, the CBS affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky. There, she was the weekend anchor and reporter. During her time in the Commonwealth, Shelby covered the 2021 Western Kentucky tornadoes. She was honored to share the stories of resilience there and help pay tribute to the victims. She was struck by the generosity of the people who jumped in to help with clean up and recovery efforts. Her favorite stories to tell are ones that highlight humanity coming together and using their strengths to make a real difference. Shelby also had the privilege of covering The Kentucky Derby twice. She was named Rookie of the Year by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association in 2020. Shelby is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In college, she worked at KOMU-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbia, Missouri. She was fortunate to try out a lot of jobs behind the camera, but reporting is where her heart is. Shelby was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She grew up taking road trips up and down the west coast. She loves traveling and has visited 10 countries. When she’s not in the newsroom or out reporting in the field, Shelby enjoys catching up on documentaries, listening to podcasts, dining at different hotspots, cheering on Mizzou sports and hiking Utah’s many beautiful trails.