4-24-2026 2:59pm

The Drones Protecting Your Neighborhood Are Flown by Volunteers — and They Want to Show You How It Works

Chris Clasen Editor

NEMCo is a partnership among the cities of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park and the Shoreline Fire Department to maximize each participating agency's emergency preparedness efforts and resources to serve our
Northshore community.

The NEMCo unmanned aircraft system (UAS) Team is hosting a drone update event on April 30th, for the community to learn about local drone operations, ask questions, see live drone operations, and recruit the next class of volunteers.

When a wildfire threatens a neighborhood, a person goes missing in a forested park, or floodwaters make roads impassable, getting the right information fast can mean the difference between a controlled response and a crisis. Increasingly, that information comes from above — and in Kenmore, Shoreline, and Lake Forest Park, it comes from a team of trained community volunteers.

The NEMCo Air Squirrels, a volunteer UAS (drone) program operating across North King County, have spent the last two-and-a-half years building something rare: a fully deployable, professionally structured aerial program staffed entirely by community volunteers. They work alongside Lake Forest Park Police, the Shoreline Fire Department, the manager, and public utilities to provide aerial incident support.

On Thursday, April 30th, they’re opening their doors to the community and inviting anyone who’s curious to come see what this program actually does.

Public Event: NEMCo UAS Team Community Open House

Thursday, April 30, 2026 • 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Shoreline Fire Station 51, Public Meeting Room

7220 NE 181st St, Kenmore, WA

Free admission • All community members welcome

Contact: NEMCoUAS@gmail.com

The evening is organized into two parts. The first half is a candid look inside the program:

— how the UAS team operates, what policies and procedures govern every flight, and how they coordinate with Lake Forest Park Police and other agencies in incident response. Attendees will hear directly from the volunteers who built and run the program.

The second half moves outside. Live drone demonstrations will give attendees a close look at the equipment in action, with pilots on hand to walk through specific missions and answer questions. The conversation will also cover how police departments, fire agencies, cities, and utility companies across the region are expanding their drone use — and where volunteer programs fit into that picture.

“Most people see a drone in the sky and wonder who’s flying it and why. We want to answer that question — and show our neighbors that this program exists to protect them. Come see the equipment, meet the pilots, and decide for yourself.”

— NEMCo Air Squirrels Program Leadership

The event also marks the opening of applications for the next semester of NEMCo UAS Ground School. The NEMCo UAS program has open positions across every level of operations — no previous drone experience required.

Volunteer roles include ground team support, air team operations, flight coordination, piloting, photo and video editing, 2D mapping, and live video feed management. You don’t have to do it all, but if you're interested in an area, we can use you! All community members are welcome to this training. For students aged 15 and up, the training provides applied STEM knowledge with a real operational context that no classroom can replicate.

The Air Squirrels are not a government agency. They’re your neighbors — teachers, engineers, business managers, and retirees — who chose to build something useful for the communities they live in. The April 30th event is an invitation to understand what that looks like, and for the right people, a chance to become part of it.

Admission is free and open to all community members. No registration required.