Tyler Kock, Daniel Rodriguez, and Cliff Savage a contracted UAS crew with Precision Integrated Programs / Overwatch Aero on the Lighting Complex Fire. These UAS are used to provide real-time situational awareness to ground crews while also providing timely perimeter updates to the command staff.
October 6, 2022
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Mechanized birds: Wildland firefighting with drone intelligence
The robotic birds of the sky, known colloquially as drones, were a menace to the wildland firefighting community. The mere appearance of a recreational drone in the skies near a wildfire called for the grounding of all firefighting aircraft, giving birth to catchy sayings like “If you fly, we can’t,” and “It’s not worth the view.” While these sayings are still true, drones – also called UAS or unmanned aerial systems – are playing an increasingly important role in fighting wildfires.