FireFlight mapping system to undergo bushfire season trial in South Australia

Widespread fire destruction – as experienced during the Cudlee Creek bushfires – could be limited as a new system takes to the air in an Australian first.

A manned aircraft, equipped with a real-time mapping system, could be the latest weapon in keeping communities safe during future bushfires.

FireFlight Technologies – a start-up based at the University of South Australia’s Innovation and Collaboration Centre – has received $100,000 in funding from the state government to trial its FireFlight system with the Country Fire Service.

The FireFlight sensor system is mounted on a manned aircraft that is flown over an active bushfire.

The system allows for real-time mapping with data sent to firefighting agency in under a minute, allowing crews to accurately track the fire’s path and potentially limit its destruction.

FireFlight Technologies founder and chief executive officer Dr Paul Dare said the SA trial – which is currently under way – will be the first full, season-long trial of the system in Australia.

FireFlight Technologies will run a year-long trial of its new bushfire mapping system in SA. Picture supplied.,

“The FireFlight system will deliver real-time fire intelligence to incident controllers, helping them to efficiently deploy resources such as firefighters, fire trucks and firebombers where they are really needed,” he said.

“The fire maps provided by the FireFlight system will show exactly where the fire is at that moment.

“The maps can be updated on a minute-by-minute basis, enabling the CFS to monitor the progression of the fire and better understand its behaviour.

“The length of the trial will enable us to make changes to the system during the season, based on feedback from the CFS, so that we can ensure we are meeting their needs.”

The system has been trialled by the Australian army in Queensland, Tasmania and on Kangaroo Island, as well as during the California bushfires in 2020.

FireFlight Technologies – a start-up based at the University of South Australia’s Innovation and Collaboration Centre – has received $100,000 in funding from the Marshall Government to trial its FireFlight system with the Country Fire Service (CFS)., Picture supplied.

FireFlight Technologies – a start-up based at the University of South Australia’s Innovation and Collaboration Centre – has received $100,000 in funding from the Marshall Government to trial its FireFlight system with the Country Fire Service (CFS)., Picture supplied.,

CFS manager state air operations Nik Stanley said the trial would help to further develop the technology.

“The CFS is looking forward to seeing the results of further trials, developments and evaluations of the FireFlight fire mapping technology,” he said.

SUPPORT FOR FIREYS

Firefighters put their lives on the line during one of Australia’s worst bushfire seasons in history.

Yet, new research shows support for the thousands of fireys who served in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire has been limited.

The study, by Flinders University and the University of Western Australia has revealed more than 5000 personnel faced traumatic or life-threatening experiences while responding to the Black Summer bushfires. That’s more than double the rate that would have been expected.

The study, which included in-depth interviews with SA firefighters, found 58 per cent of volunteers and 52 per cent of employees also did not receive any mental health treatment in the 12 months following the fires.

Of those who received help, 32 per cent of volunteers and 31 per cent of employees reported that assistance was provided through their organisations.

With Australia poised for hotter summers and subsequently more bushfires ahead, Flinders University Professor Sharon Lawn said agencies needed to find better ways to scale up mental health support post bushfire events.

Prof Lawn said this might include leveraging peer support. “Overwhelmingly, we found that the level of peer support was incredible,” she said. “When I first started this research, there was this perception that they are just firefighters when in fact, they are part of the community.

“They are members of the footy club. They are members of the Lion’s Club – so for many it was the community cohesion that came through to help them deal.”

It is estimated that around 82,480 personnel were involved in the Black Summer bushfires across SA, Queensland, NSW and Victoria.