AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   Maine State Police say the value of newly acquired drones came into focus in the aftermath of a silo explosion that injured three people in a town.

State police operators used an unmanned aerial vehicle in October to check for victims at the 86-foot structure in the town of Detroit; it was unsafe to send in firefighters. Assured there were no more victims, firefighters focused on dousing the flames and dealing with a sulfur leak.

All told, three drones were purchased by Maine State Police this fall.

Officials who demonstrated their capabilities Tuesday said the greatest value so far has been at crash scenes. Officials say drones are used to analyze and document the scene, reducing the amount of time roads are closed and the amount of work for investigators.