OKI Gets New Drone Unit

Oak Island takes delivery of a new mobile incident command and drone control unit to support emergency response and major events.

As of Monday, April 20th, the Town of Oak Island has taken delivery of a new Mobile Incident Command & Drone Control Unit, a purpose-built vehicle designed to strengthen emergency response communications and expand the Oak Island Fire Department’s drone operations.

Built on a Ford Super Duty chassis, the unit features a custom service body by First Light Custom Builders (Providence, NC) and was upfitted by Batteries of NC (Angier, NC). The combination vehicle will serve as a centralized hub for incident command communications while also supporting the launch and control of multiple drone units during large-scale emergencies and major Town events.

A purpose-built replacement after 2024 fire loss

In 2024, the Town’s original drone unit vehicle — a repurposed 2018 Ram 1500 — was declared a total loss after sustaining fire damage. Over the past 18 months, the Oak Island Fire Department has worked to design an entirely new type of combination unit that provides both mobile incident command and multi-drone control capabilities.

The new unit was purchased through a combination of existing vehicle replacement funds and private donations.

Surprise unveiling honors Chief Drone Pilot Shawn Barry

Fire Chief Lee Price coordinated a special surprise unveiling for Chief Drone Pilot Shawn Barry, who was present for the unit’s arrival at Town Hall.

Barry is currently undergoing aggressive treatment following a 2025 cancer diagnosis, and it was important for him to see the culmination of work that began more than five years ago with a single drone.

Barry launched Oak Island’s innovative Drone Division in 2021 as a part-time pilot. Since then, he has helped grow the program into a nationally recognized leader, providing training support to other drone programs across the region and the nation. In addition to the Chief Pilot, the Fire Department’s Drone Safety Unit now includes multiple trained and certified drone operators.

Regional benefit for mutual aid and major events

With the ability to rapidly deploy multiple drones from multiple agencies and operate as a highly mobile communications center, the new unit is expected to benefit not only Oak Island but also regional mutual aid partners.

With delivery complete, the vehicle will now be outfitted with the Town’s drone equipment. The first anticipated deployment is planned for the Oak Island Seafood Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Learn more
To learn more about the Oak Island Fire Department Drone Unit, visit: OakIslandNC.gov/DRONE