Drone fleet to assist Bushfires NT this fire season

Flying through buildings, aerial surveillance and even starting fires, these drone capabilities represent the future of fighting fires in the Northern Territory.

This drone in the box hardware costs $25,000. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Smokey mornings and the smell of burning bush are a sure sign the Top End’s bushfire season has well underway.

This fire season, Bushfires NT will deploy drones as part of their airborne firefighting efforts for the first time.

The fleet of nine remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) (drones) will be deployed through the agency’s partnership with the NT Fire and Rescue Services (NTFRS).

“RPAS are giving us eyes in the sky like never before,” Bushfires NT chief fire control officer Tony Fuller said

“The ability to access real-time data helps our crews make faster, more informed decisions, particularly in remote areas.”

NTFRS chief fire officer Stephen Sewell and Bushfires NT chief fire control officer Tony Fuller at Bushfires NT headquarters. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Practically the four types of drones will assist Bushfires NT by boosting a range of capabilities, including ariel thermal surveillance, detecting fire hot spots and patterns, mapping destruction post-fires and even starting fires themselves for backburning and fire mitigation purposes.

The drones vary in different sizes, flight times, carrying capacity and capabilities.

The smallest Avata drone weighs less than 250g and can fly through buildings, while the larger Wingtra drone can fly for up to two hours and cover an area of 200 acres.

Deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter holds the mini Avata drone. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

These drones will complement the fire services existing aerial fleet which includes four fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters.

NTFRS chief fire officer Stephen Sewell said his urban fire service looked forward to sharing their drone skills with their rural counterparts.

“RPAS (drones) were actually an asset introduced by firefighters,” Mr Sewell said.

“The technology frees up firefighters to actually do the firefighting.

“It also allows for rapid intervention to get to the firegrounds earlier and direct firefighters to hot spots on the ground.”

A Matrice 300 drone (foreground) and a Wingtra drone. The Matrice has a heavier carrying capacity, while the Wingtra has the longest flying capability. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Mr Sewell said drone technology would be part of the future of firefighting, while also assuring it would not take jobs.

“This technology will form part of the future of firefighting,” he said.

“I don't think it will replace firefighters in the short-term.

“We definitely need firefighters and we need more of them.

“This is just one of those capabilities that enhances what we do.”

A command centre for the drones. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter said the drones complemented the crews on the ground.

He described one drone pilot’s “amazement” at the ground crews’ instincts and intimate knowledge of fire behaviour.

“They were able to tell us stuff from the ground we could not see in the air,” he said.

“They would notice the trees moving or the wind’s direction.”