Firefighting Drones - Thermal Imaging Wildfire Drones

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and drones have become essential tools for fire departments and environmental agencies, providing vital aerial intelligence and payload delivery capabilities for dealing with urban and building fires as well as large forest fires and wildfires.

Drones are an ideal tool for first responders and search and rescue teams, as they are more cost-effective than manned aircraft and helicopters, and can be deployed quickly without the need to put personnel at risk.

Types of Fire Department Drones

• Multirotor drones may be used where more maneuverability is required, such as between buildings. They are also used for drone wildfire detection since VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) capability makes them quick to deploy and easy to transport.
• Fixed-wing drones may be deployed where large areas need to be covered quickly, such as in the case of extensive wildfires.

Firefighting drones typically require rugged design and construction due to the harsh environmental conditions that they will face. Their components may need to be qualified for use at extended temperature ranges, and they may also need to be protected against ingress of water and smoke particles.

Applications for Firefighting Drones

Drones for Aerial Reconnaissance & Fire Detection

Drones equipped with electro-optical cameras can capture a range of useful information that can be broadcast back to ground crews. They can be used to capture real-time video footage in order to gain an understanding of the extent of the fire and its behavior, including the direction and speed of spread.

This video footage can also be used to spot potential hazards such as flammable or explosive materials, and to detect people in the vicinity who may be at risk. This information can be used to help firefighting teams prepare a more effective response.

Water & Fire Retardant Delivery

While most small drones are only capable of carrying EO/IR gimbals and other imaging payloads, heavy-lift drones with greater carrying capacities may be used to fight fires directly. Successful examples of this include drones equipped with a water hose connected to a ground-based supply, and unmanned aircraft that can drop fire retardants such as dry powder.

Thermal Imaging for Firefighting

Thermal imaging and infrared cameras can be used to capture information that may be either less visible or completely invisible to regular electro-optical cameras. They may be used for wildfire detection in the initial stages, providing a greater chance of controlling them before they spread further. By analyzing the infrared radiation given off by different parts of the fire, they can be used to figure out where hotspots are, allowing fire crews to focus their efforts on the most effective areas.

Unlike visible cameras, thermal cameras can also see through smoke and haze, and are also effective during night-time operations. In addition to dealing with the fire itself, these capabilities make them highly suited to detecting people and animals who may be trapped, and informing search and rescue teams of their locations.