COLORADO — When some people hear the word drones, they think of the ones used to help get photos and measurements of their roof for a roof replacement, of the drone that took the amazing video of a concert or movie they watched, or maybe one their neighbor sends up for just for fun. However, what about a drone that fights fire? 

Fighting fire is exactly what drones, or unmanned aircraft systems, are doing as part of the USDA Forest Service’s growing UAS program.   

The Oak Ridge Fire was reported on June 22, 2024, near Beulah, Colo. After an aggressive initial response from the local unit, the plan called for creating indirect and direct lines to protect the community of Beulah and the Middle Fork watershed. Responder risk was very high due to the inaccessibility to the fire. To protect firefighters, as well as the community and resources, UAS were selected as an important firefighting tool.

Two types of UAS were used to fight the Oak Ridge Fire. The first was a smaller UAS, known as the Anafi parrot, used to quickly gather images and video surveillance of the fire perimeter so that fire managers could make rapid decisions with real-time information. More important, the parrot was used for its infrared camera capable of detecting heat; Forest Service UAS operators used it to find hotspots outside and within the fire’s perimeter.

The second UAS used was a much larger and more sophisticated Type 3 UAS called the Alta X. Using an aerial ignition machine, the Alta X dropped small balls, called aerial ignition spheres, to start intentional fires from above, a technique called aerial ignition. These spheres are filled with two chemicals that, when combined, react by heating up and starting a fire. Aerial ignition was used to burn out areas of the fire that were difficult to access by ground crews. Starting a burn out like this could take hours by ground but can be completed in minutes by air.

“Over the last few years, UAS have become the go-to tool to protect firefighters and communities in many situations. UAS are important on fires because they reduce exposure of aircrews to high-risk missions,” says Michael Spink, zone aviation officer for three national forests in Colorado. “Aerial ignition requires helicopter flight crews to fly low and slow over the area of operation. This flight pattern leaves very little room for error and if anything were to go wrong, would leave the crew very few options.”

Contributing to firefighter safety is one of the most important reasons UAS are used, but they are also getting more use because of their versatility: The aircraft can be flown in low visibility like smoke or fog and can be flown day or night. UAS can be stationed on or near the fire line making it easy to launch and be over the fire in minutes. They are also much cheaper to use than a helicopter and flight crew. While the cost of the system is around $90,000, which sounds expensive, it is a one-time cost as opposed to helicopter contracting and flight time.

UAS do have their drawbacks though: UAS can have short flight times (and short flight distances) due to battery power limitations. High winds also reduce their capabilities and flight times. UAS can only hold small tools and other lightweight items, especially in high altitude and hot conditions. Datalinks and connectivity between the UAS and controller can be problematic. 

Nonetheless, UAS are becoming a major player in fire management. With a busy fire season, remote locations and challenging terrain, wildland firefighters will use all the tools they can get. So, the next time you’re wondering, who is fighting that wildfire, you might just look up and see the next-gen Forest Service firefighter…the “drone”!

Check out this video to learn about aerial ignition by UAS on the Oak Ridge Fire. A great place to learn more about the use of UAS in the Forest Service as well as some of the requirements, rules and concerns about public uses of drones/UAS can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/aviation/uas.