VeraBank Funds Longview Fire Drone Program
The $50,000 donation will support a new drone response program for the Longview Fire Department.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Emergency Response
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VeraBank presented the Longview Fire Department with a $50,000 check on Friday to launch a drone response program. The department will use the funding to purchase a Skydio X10 drone for public safety operations.
Why it matters
The drone is expected to strengthen the department's ability to respond to emergencies in Longview, allowing firefighters to assess dangerous situations from a safe distance before deploying personnel. The program adds aerial capability to a department already known for its special operations work.
The $50,000 gift from VeraBank is the stated funding source for the program, which pairs the donation with a Skydio X10 drone equipped with thermal imaging and a 64-megapixel zoom camera. Whether the donation covers the full cost of the program was not specified.
The players
Longview Fire Department
The Longview Fire Department is a municipal fire agency in Longview that is nationally recognized for its special operations team and frequently responds to disasters across Texas and the nation.
VeraBank
VeraBank is a regional bank headquartered in East Texas that funds local public safety and community initiatives.
The details
The Skydio X10 offers AI-powered autonomous flight and can operate in low-light, nighttime and GPS-denied areas. Its planned uses include fire operations, search and rescue, hazardous materials incidents, storm and disaster response, and firefighter training.
Timeline
February 2026: The department's special operations team rescued two people from a balloon stuck on a radio tower 1,000 feet in the air.
2025: The department responded to the deadly Kerrville flooding.
November 6, 2026: VeraBank presented the $50,000 check to the fire department.
Roadmap
Fire departments across the country are increasingly adding autonomous drones like the Skydio X10 to their emergency toolkits. Longview's purchase places the department among agencies using AI-assisted aerial platforms for scene assessment and search operations.
Residents who want to know how the drone program will be used during emergencies can ask the Longview Fire Department about its deployment policies. Watch for department announcements about when the drone becomes operational.
The takeaway
Drones can let firefighters see a dangerous scene before sending people into it, which can reduce risk to responders. Communities considering similar programs can look to local partnerships like this one as a funding model.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Emergency Response reporting on how local agencies prepare for and respond to incidents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Longview News-Journal.
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