Wildfires, on average, spread at a rate of 14 miles an hour once they have been ignited (https://www.nationalgeographic.com). Equating to about a four-minute mile time, firefighters on foot cannot outrun a spreading wildfire, particularly when there are high winds added to the mix. Often times, when wildfires start there is not enough time to clear residences and block off roads before it’s too late. Drones can be an amazing asset in an emergency scenario like this, but only if this is done so safely.
Why aren’t drones widely used to assist in wildfire fighting already?
Currently, wildfire airspace is considered a “No Drone Zone” by the government. At https://www.nifc.gov/drones/, it is explained that the safety fears are due to the lack of an unmanned traffic management system (UTM) and a way to communicate with the drone operators. Many different types of manned aircraft are used for wildfire fighting ranging from multirotor to fixed wing, and a collision between a drone and manned aircraft is likely to be fatal for the pilots and or passengers of the manned aircraft. Due to this concern, when unauthorized drones fly into the wildfire zone without authorization, manned aircraft must be landed. Once a UTM system is implemented, and drone service providers work with emergency responders, both of the government’s concerns will be alleviated.
What difference would drones make in wildfire emergency response?
Despite presenting safety concerns when not used correctly, drones can actually offer significant support to further increase safety. To start, drones can get in the air in as little as 30 minutes to begin assessing the area affected. This would allow the emergency response crew to know exactly where the fire is and has spread without bringing anyone too close. This can be shorten the time between ignition and initial attack to allow the emergency response personnel to deploy before the fire has spread too far. With the use of a payload with thermal capabilities, dangerous hot spots can be identified as well as real-time spreading of the fire when it comes to direction and rate. Due to the thermal sensor, this can even be done when there is fog present or heavy smoke preventing clear visibility.
Smithsonian Magazine’s video here further highlights the usefulness of drones in fighting wildfires. When a crew lost contact with their command center, a drone equipped with an infrared payload went searching for them.