In firefighting, drones get used to see hot spots in the dark, map the size of fires and look for damage. But the recent Green Fire also proves the flying robots also are effective in starting backfires on terrain firefighters cannot safely get to in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
“If the mission is dull, dumb or dangerous, send the drone,” said John Schuler, a firefighter and U.S. Forest Service spokesperson on the Green Fire, which is burning northeast of Redding.
Drones can go where no firefighter can: Into remote areas that are difficult to impossible for crews to reach, and where manned aircraft have trouble flying due to smoke or other safety concerns.
They do the latter by dropping ping pong balls full of chemicals, said Schuler.
When those balls hit the ground they start tiny backfires in a line along the drone’s path, burning up bits of vegetation to starve hotter larger forest fires when they reach that spot.
“We’re using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) primarily for aerial reconnaissance, mapping and real-time intelligence gathering” on the Green Fire, said Schuler, pointing out Shasta-Trinity forest’s steep rugged terrain makes using drones ideal.
Firefighters are using drones to take infrared images of the Green Fire. Areas where the fire is hottest glow red in those images. Thermal images and live video feed from drones also help firefighters see where the fire is moving, how much damage it’s doing and if it threatens buildings.
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While using drones to get information is less expensive than using helicopters, the greatest advantage is to firefighters’ safety.
That said, civilians risk firefighters’ lives and slow their work if they fly their own drone over a wildfire — an illegal act that can “interfere with firefighting aircraft … potentially grounding all air operations,” he said.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Forest service firefighters use drones to fight California wildfires
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