Against the growing number and increased destruction of wildfires across the planet over the last several years, it’s become more frequent to hear reports of UAV assisting firefighters in the battle to put them out. Now the Australian state of Victoria is using drones to light fires as well.
This week Victoria officials revealed tests had been carried out using drones to light controlled fires in the inland Wimmera region, which features flat drylands and large agricultural spreads. The trials flew UAV equipped with incendiary devices to ignite blazes in designated places across a 7,413-acre zone. Those were allowed to burn as simulated backfires – relatively small fires often lit in front of advancing infernos to deprive them of fuel once they arrive.
Officials said the technique of using drones to light smaller fires as a means of battling far bigger ones provided increased accuracy and safety compared to manual methods.
Forest Fire Management…
