Firewatch from Above: How Thermal Drones Aid Wildfire Prevention & Response

Wildfire season looms each year with daunting predictability. As we honor International Firefighters’ Day (May 4) and mark Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (first Saturday of May), it’s an apt moment to assess how cutting-edge technology is bolstering those on the front lines. Among the most game-changing tools are thermal imaging drones.

These aerial assets have evolved far beyond simple cameras, becoming integral to detection, real-time mapping, and safer firefighting tactics. In this article, we explore how thermal drones provide persistent eyes in the sky, support controlled burns, enhance nighttime operations, and aid in search & rescue.

Thermal Drones on the Wildfire Frontlines

Modern wildfire incidents demand persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that only aerial eyes can provide. Thermal drones now fill this role by hovering over fires for real-time situational awareness. Unlike satellite passes or occasional helicopter flyovers, drones can be deployed on demand and at low altitudes to continuously monitor fire behavior, spot new ignitions, and relay data to incident commanders.

In fact, since as early as 2015, agencies like the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) have integrated crewed and uncrewed operations on wildfires, recognizing that unmanned aircraft “have revolutionized wildland fire” by detecting hazards that might otherwise go unseen.

Early fire detection is a key advantage. Thermal sensors can see through smoke and darkness to identify spot fires or embers that have jumped control lines. Mark Bathrick, former director of DOI’s Office of Aviation Services, notes that drones equipped with infrared found an “otherwise unseen spot fire” in 2017 and directed crews to extinguish it – an action credited with saving $50 million in property and infrastructure.

Drones also excel at mapping the fire perimeter in real time; their geo-tagged thermal imagery can delineate the active fire edge and heat intensity, supporting better decision-making for resource placement. During fast-moving incidents, having an eye in the sky that can be redeployed as the fire spreads is invaluable for maintaining situational awareness across the incident.

Night Operations and Hazard Zone Monitoring

When night falls on a wildfire, much of the manned firefighting aviation activity must halt for safety and regulatory reasons. However, wildfires don’t rest at night – and neither can the need for vigilance. Thermal drones step up by providing persistent nighttime surveillance. On large incidents, teams have begun using higher-endurance UAS to scan the fire all night long for any changes. These drones can hover over critical areas and use infrared cameras to spot flare-ups or creeping fires in the dark. With the aid of onboard sensors and GPS, they can then guide ground crews to these hotspots via radio, so that firefighters can address them before they grow. This capability can mean the difference between a minor rekindle that is quickly doused versus one that grows unchecked until morning.

Thermal drones also allow incident commanders to monitor hazardous areas without risking personnel. They can overfly hazard zones – for example, an active flank with extreme fire behavior, or a steep canyon where firefighters have pulled back – and feed live video to command. By monitoring fire intensity, spread rates, and spotting activity in these no-go areas, drones help command staff decide when and where it might be safe for crews to re-engage.

If conditions remain too dangerous, the drone’s live feed provides confirmation, ensuring firefighter safety remains the top priority. In essence, drones become high-tech lookouts, hovering where human eyes can’t safely be, and doing so during the day and night. Bathrick emphasizes that drones have even been able to fly in smoky daytime conditions when helicopters or air tankers are grounded, maintaining continuity of operations during poor visibility. By extending situational awareness into hours and locations that previously saw gaps, thermal UAS greatly enhanced the operational period of wildfire monitoring.

Extended Overwatch with Higher-Endurance UAS

Most public safety drones are small multirotor aircraft under 55 pounds – in wildfire terms, these fall into the Type 3 UAS category (with typical flight endurance of under an hour). They are effective for local missions but need regular battery swaps.

To achieve truly persistent ISR, some agencies are now exploring larger Type 1 UAS (which can exceed 8 hours endurance) for major incidents. These Type 1 drones, often fixed-wing or dual-engine systems more akin to small airplanes, can loiter for an entire operational shift and cover a vast area. For example, California has contracted long-endurance drones (such as MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft) to orbit over massive wildfires, streaming infrared video to incident command posts through the night. While such platforms require special coordination (and typically contractor operation), they exemplify how wildfire ISR is reaching new heights.

Incident pilots might rotate multiple Type 3 drones to spell each other out – as one drone’s battery depletes and it returns to base, another is launched to replace it. Additionally, emerging solutions like tethered drones (which draw power from a ground source) can hover for hours over a fixed location, acting as a persistent aerial lookout on a fireline or at an incident base. The wildfire community is actively evaluating these innovations to extend drone overwatch capabilities. The end goal is clear: achieve 24/7 aerial surveillance during critical periods of a wildfire, so that no significant change in the fire goes undetected. Thermal drones, with their ability to “see” fire through darkness and smoke, are the linchpin of this around-the-clock strategy.

Aerial Ignition: Fighting Fire with “Dragon Eggs”

One of the most exciting and specialized uses of drones in wildfire fighting is aerial ignition – essentially, using drones to start fires in a controlled manner to combat the main wildfire. This tactic, often used in burnout operations and backburns, traditionally involved helicopters dropping incendiary spheres (nicknamed “ping-pong balls” or “Dragon Eggs”) to burn out fuels ahead of the wildfire. Today, drones equipped with Plastic Sphere Dispenser (PSD) payloads can do this job with greater precision and safety. In a progressive strategy pioneered by the Bureau of Land Management and adopted by the U.S. Forest Service, unmanned aircraft handle airborne fire ignition so that pilots and crewed aircraft can stay clear of dangerous environments.

How does it work? The drone carries a hopper of Dragon Eggs – small polystyrene balls filled with a chemical (usually potassium permanganate). The dispenser injects each sphere with glycol just before dropping it; within half a minute the chemical reaction causes the sphere to ignite after it lands on the ground. By programming the drone’s flight path and drop timing, firefighters can ignite very specific areas in a desired pattern.

This is used to create containment lines or burn out unburned fuel between the wildfire and firefighters. During the Grizzly Creek Fire in Colorado, for example, a drone was used to ignite a bowl of unburned vegetation with surgical precision, successfully stopping the fire’s spread south and helping boost containment to 61%. The incident team’s spokesperson called this “the future” of wildfire operations.

Aerial ignition drones like the DOI-backed Drone Amplified IGNIS system have proven themselves on both wildfires and prescribed burns. In fact, the National Interagency Aviation Committee issued interim approval for UAS-based aerial ignition in 2019, integrating this tool into official wildfire operations guidelines. Today, any UAS aerial ignition operation on federal incidents must follow established protocols (per NWCG Standards for Fire UAS Operations, PMS 515) to ensure safety and effectiveness. Fire agencies are training UAS pilots through specialized Aerial Ignition Academies to build this capability across the country. As wildfire seasons grow more extreme, these “fire-starting” drones offer a proactive way to eliminate fuels and outflank fires – truly an example of fighting fire with fire from above.

Post-Fire Assessment and Mop-Up Support

Long after the flames have been knocked down, thermal drones continue to provide value in wildfire incidents. During the mop-up and post-incident phase, firefighters must locate and extinguish all remaining hot spots to prevent rekindles. This can be a needle-in-a-haystack challenge across thousands of charred acres. Thermal imaging drones make this task much more efficient by scanning the burnout area for residual heat. Smoldering stumps, root holes, or logs that might not emit visible smoke are easily picked up by a sensitive IR camera. Crews can systematically work with a drone team: as the drone spots a heat signature, it marks the GPS coordinates and directs ground personnel to that exact location for extinguishment. This targeted approach saves countless hours of patrolling and digging.

Additionally, many agencies use drones to perform post-fire mapping – generating orthomosaic maps of the burned area and fire perimeter. These maps assist with damage assessment, public information, and rehabilitation planning. By carrying dual RGB/thermal sensors, a single drone flight can capture high-resolution imagery to document structure damage or infrastructure impacts, while also overlaying thermal data that might reveal subsurface heat. For wildland fires, thermal drones can help create burn severity assessments, identifying areas of lingering underground heat or classifying the burn intensity (which correlates with soil damage and erosion risk). The U.S. Forest Service and BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) teams increasingly incorporate UAS in their toolkits to safely survey burned watersheds right after containment.

Importantly, this post-incident use of drones is considered a planned mission (as opposed to the emergency context during the active fire). As such, it typically follows agency project aviation protocols. Under NWCG guidelines, once a fire is declared out, drone operations transition to non-emergency procedures and must comply with all agency UAS planning processes. Many fire departments and land agencies have developed UAS Standard Operating Procedures for these scenarios, often referencing standards like NFPA 2400 for consistent operation and data management. In sum, thermal drones ensure that even after the flames are out, firefighters have a high-tech partner to help complete the job and gather critical intel for recovery.

Search and Rescue Amid Wildfire Chaos

Wildfires don’t only char land and property – they can also imperil lives in unexpected ways. Whether it’s a firefighter separated from their crew, a family trapped by encroaching flames, or a missing person in the wildland-urban interface, search and rescue (SAR) operations often run parallel to wildfire response.

Thermal drones have proven to be literal lifesavers in these scenarios. Their ability to detect human body heat in vast, dark environments makes them ideal for finding people quickly. For instance, in one recent case, a fire department in Tennessee responded to a night call about two lost hunters (one of them a 9-year-old child) in a dense wildlife management area. Firefighters launched two thermal imaging drones and within five minutes located the pair, who were then guided to safety. The drone’s infrared view pierced the darkness and forest canopy where ground crews would have struggled for hours.

During wildfire evacuations, agencies deploy thermal drones to ensure no one is left behind in evacuation zones, especially at night. Flying over neighborhoods or rural properties, the drone can scan for any heat signatures moving or stationary – potentially indicating a person or even pets needing rescue. This has been used by law enforcement and fire departments to double-check evacuation orders compliance and direct deputies or firefighters to any remaining civilians. Likewise, if firefighters must shelter in place due to an unexpected fire overrun, a drone can locate them and assess their condition from a safe standoff distance, aiding rapid rescue when conditions allow.

SAR tasks in wildfire environments often mean flying in smoky, windy conditions over uneven terrain – conditions that enterprise drones are built to handle with stabilized gimbals and obstacle sensing. Drones like the DJI Matrice 4T or Matrice 350 RTK carry both thermal and optical zoom cameras, so once a thermal target is found, the pilot can instantly zoom in on the spot with a daylight camera for identification. Many systems also have spotlights and loudspeakers: at night, a drone can hover and illuminate a lost hiker while also calling out to reassure them that help is on the way.

All of this can occur while ground teams are still organizing, effectively buying time and precision in critical rescues. For experienced wildfire and SAR personnel, these drone capabilities represent a major advancement in protecting lives.

Cutting-Edge UAS Platforms for Wildfire Missions

The wildfire community’s adoption of drones has been accelerated by rapid advances in enterprise UAS platforms. Today’s top public safety drones come with robust airframes, long flight times, and advanced sensor payloads tailored for demanding operations. Here we highlight some leading platforms making a difference in wildfire and forestry applications, along with key capabilities:

• DJI Matrice 350 RTK + Zenmuse H30T – A heavy-duty workhorse with up to 55 minutes of flight time , IP55 weather sealing, and RTK precision navigation. Paired with the Zenmuse H30T multi-sensor gimbal, it offers a best-in-class 1280×1024 resolution thermal camera (a 4× increase over previous 640×512 systems), plus a 20× optical zoom camera and laser rangefinder. This combo enables high-altitude overwatch, detailed heat mapping, and pinpoint target location from a safe distance. It’s an ideal UAS for large incidents requiring extended situational awareness.
  

• DJI Matrice 30T – A more compact foldable drone built for quick deployment. The M30T integrates a thermal camera (640×512 resolution) and a 200× hybrid zoom camera on a single gimbal, along with laser rangefinding. With ~41 minutes of flight time and high wind tolerance, it’s well-suited for rapid response and mapping missions. Incident commanders appreciate that it fits in a single case and can be carried by one person to remote fireline locations. The M30T’s sensor suite and Night Vision mode make it a go-to for night operations and search missions.
  

• DJI Matrice 4 Thermal (M4T) – The newest Matrice series offering, bridging portability and performance. The M4T features a triple-sensor payload (wide, zoom, and thermal cameras) with similar specs to the M30T but on a slightly larger airframe. It boasts ~49 minutes flight time and a remarkable 15+ mile transmission range. With built-in AI object tracking and Night Scene enhancements, the M4T is designed for all-weather search & rescue and surveillance missions. It includes an infrared camera (640×512, 30 Hz) and is positioned as a do-it-all platform for public safety teams that need both agility and endurance.
  

• Autel EVO Max 4T XE– Autel Robotics’ flagship enterprise drone, introduced as a direct competitor to DJI’s Matrice series. The EVO Max 4T offers a 42-minute flight time and is rated IP43 for dust/water resistance. Its gimbal carries a 50 MP visual camera (1/1.28” sensor) and a 640×512 thermal imager , plus laser ranging, giving it capabilities similar to the M30T. Notably, the EVO Max 4T has 12+ mile range and a top speed over 50 mph , useful for covering large firegrounds. Autel has emphasized Autonomy and AI in this model, enabling pinpoint automatic subject tracking – a useful feature for monitoring moving fire fronts or guiding teams to points of interest.
  

• Autel EVO II Dual 640T V3 – A portable workhorse, the EVO II Dual V3 builds on Autel’s proven EVO II platform with a high-resolution 8K daylight camera and a 640×512 30 Hz thermal sensor. It flies for about 40 minutes on a charge. While not as weather-hardened as larger drones, its small size (foldable, ~1.2 kg) makes it extremely handy for initial attack crews or remote area deployment. Many fire agencies use EVO II Duals for tasks like mapping small fires, scouting firelines, and SAR in forests. The V3’s upgraded sensors and encryption make it suitable for agencies that require NDAA-compliant equipment (it omits certain Chinese components).
  

• Teledyne FLIR SIRAS – A unique USA-made quadcopter developed by Teledyne FLIR for public safety. SIRAS has a quick-swap dual camera payload: a 16 MP visible camera with up to 32× zoom, and a FLIR Boson thermal camera (640×512 resolution) capable of full radiometric output. Impressively, its thermal can stream at 60 Hz for fluid motion – beneficial for fast-moving scenes. Flight time is ~31 minutes. SIRAS is IP54 rugged and designed to meet NDAA compliance and data security needs. It’s become popular with wildfire and hazmat teams who value FLIR’s pedigree in thermal imaging and a platform with no geofencing restrictions. The radiometric thermal data also aids in detailed heat analysis during burnovers or equipment testing.
  

• Parrot ANAFI USA Gov Edition – An ultra-portable quadcopter (≈500 g) built to military and wildfire agency specifications. The ANAFI USA packs a 21 MP visual camera and a FLIR thermal core (320×256 resolution) in a lightweight, foldable frame. It offers about 32 minutes flight time and is IP53 rated. What sets it apart is an enhanced secure data pipeline (the “Gov Edition” adds hardened encryption and no data storage in the drone) and fully NDAA-compliant components, allowing use by federal agencies and contractors. While its thermal resolution is lower than larger drones, it is sufficient for finding hotspots and persons at shorter ranges. The ANAFI’s 32× digital zoom and quiet flight make it useful for discreet overwatch. Several wildland teams use ANAFI USA drones to scout fire lines or search buildings during wildfire evacuations where a small agile drone is advantageous.
  
  

Training, Standards, and Safety Protocols

As fire departments and land management agencies integrate thermal drones into their operations, they are doing so within emerging policy frameworks and standards that ensure safety and efficacy. A foundational document guiding many programs is NFPA 2400: Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations.

This comprehensive standard, developed by representatives across fire service, law enforcement, and EMS, provides a roadmap for departments to build and manage a UAS program. It covers everything from required sUAS coordinator roles and crew qualifications to maintenance, airspace regulations, and incident command integration. NFPA 2400 underscores the need for agencies to know airspace requirements, weather minimums, crew readiness benchmarks, Incident Command System (ICS) protocols, and communication strategies before deploying drones.

For wildland firefighting specifically, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has established interagency UAS guidelines. NWCG’s PMS 515 (Standards for Fire UAS Operations) classifies drones by “Type” (1 through 4) and outlines the capabilities and limitations of each for incident use. As mentioned, Type 1 and 2 UAS (often contractor-operated) can carry multiple sensors and fly at high altitudes for strategic mapping.

Types 3 and 4 (small, often agency-owned) perform tactical missions on the fireline like situational awareness (SA), mapping, and even aerial ignition in the vicinity of crews. NWCG guidelines also detail the pilot and crew qualifications (many wildfire UAS pilots must be “carded” similar to manned aircraft pilots), required mission planning and approvals, and data management. For example, an agency must have a plan for how to collect, process, and disseminate UAS data during an incident, in coordination with the Unit Aviation Manager and incident command. This ensures that valuable intel from drones actually reaches the operations and planning sections in a usable form.

Agency-specific protocols layer on top of these standards. The DOI and USFS each have their own manuals and memoranda governing UAS. DOI’s Operational Procedure Memorandum 11 (OPM-11) and USFS’s Forest Service Handbook 5709.16 are examples that align with FAA’s 14 CFR Part 107 rules but add extra requirements for agency missions. These include items like requiring specific crew member positions (e.g., UAS Pilot, UAS Data Specialist, UAS Manager) on fires, and guidelines for flight following, risk assessments, and approvals. In 2020, the USFS even authorized leveraging DOI’s fleet and pilot qualifications to streamline interagency use – a sign of growing cooperation in deploying drones to fires. Another relevant standard is NWCG’s UAS Incident Remote Pilot Guide, which provides checklists and best practices for wildfire assignments, such as conducting a UAS briefing in the incident action plan and deconflicting airspace with manned aircraft.

Speaking of airspace: a critical safety aspect is deconfliction with firefighting aircraft. Drones must yield to all manned aircraft operations. In practice, UAS on large incidents are often coordinated through the Air Operations Branch. Many incidents designate a UAS Coordinator or UAS Mission Supervisor who works with the Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) to ensure drones operate in assigned areas and altitudes.

Finally, training cannot be overlooked. Firefighters operating UAS need more than a Part 107 license – they require fire-specific training to understand flame behavior, weather, and operational tactics so they can anticipate needs. Many agencies now have Fire UAS programs where firefighters become qualified as UAS pilots (often denoted as “UAS Module” in ICS). These pilots train in both technical flying skills and the ICS framework so they fit seamlessly into the firefighting team.

They also practice scenarios like lost link procedures (what to do if drone loses connection), battery emergency landings, and coordination with helibases and air attack platforms. By building a robust training and standardization program under frameworks like NFPA 2400 and NWCG guidelines, agencies ensure that their drone sections operate with the same professionalism and safety as any other firefighting resource.

Airspace Incursions: The Threat of Unauthorized Drones

While agency-operated drones have proven their worth, the uncontrolled use of drones by the public during wildfires has emerged as a serious operational hazard. Firefighters on the ground have a slogan: “If You Fly, We Can’t.” This phrase, popularized by the National Interagency Fire Center, underscores that when an unauthorized drone is spotted over a wildfire, all firefighting aircraft must be grounded for safety.

A mid-air collision between a hobby drone and a low-flying air tanker or helicopter could be catastrophic. Even a near-miss or pilot distraction can endanger crews and derail suppression efforts. Unfortunately, these incidents have become frustratingly common – more than 100 cases of unauthorized drones intruding on wildfire airspace have been documented in recent years.

To protect firefighting aircraft, the FAA routinely issues Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) around large wildfire incidents. A TFR creates a no-fly zone for all non-authorized aircraft (including drones) typically within a certain radius and below a certain altitude over the fire.

Flying a drone in a wildfire TFR is not only reckless – it’s illegal. Federal law makes it a crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, if a drone pilot violates a TFR, the FAA can impose civil penalties up to $75,000 for each incident.

Even without a TFR in place, anyone who interferes with wildfire suppression can face fines exceeding $20,000 under FAA regulations. These stiff penalties reflect how seriously authorities view the threat. In one notable incident in 2021, a hobby drone flown over the Palisades Fire in California actually struck a firefighting helicopter, forcing it to land. It was a stark reminder that a tiny drone can cause big trouble. Law enforcement and the FAA launched an investigation and reiterated that no one aside from the firefighting agencies is authorized to fly in that airspace.

Embracing a Safer, Smarter Future

As we salute the bravery of firefighters, it’s inspiring to see how technology like thermal drones is amplifying their effectiveness and safety. These “eyes in the sky” are not replacing human firefighters – they’re empowering them, providing intelligence and capabilities that were unimaginable a decade ago. From spotting hidden embers to igniting strategic backfires and watching over crews at 2AM, drones have proven their merit in the crucible of recent wildfire seasons. The integration of thermal UAS aligns perfectly with the mission-driven mindset of the fire service: protect lives, protect property, and stay safe doing it.

Is your agency ready to expand its wildfire toolkit with drone technology? Advexure’s public safety UAS team stands ready to assist. With experience outfitting fire and forestry agencies nationwide, we offer consultation on selecting the right enterprise drone platforms, training your personnel, and establishing SOPs that align with NFPA and NWCG standards.

Contact our public safety experts today to explore how thermal drones can augment your wildfire response and to schedule a hands-on demonstration. As we prepare for the challenges of the next wildfire season, let’s leverage every advantage we can – and ensure that those who battle the flames from the ground have the best support from above.

References

1. Mark Bathrick interview – Commercial UAV News. DOI’s former Aviation Director discusses how integrated drones have “revolutionized wildland fire,” citing examples of detecting spot fires and using longer-endurance drones for nighttime surveillance.
   

2. FAA “If You Fly, We Can’t” Toolkit. Federal Aviation Administration guidance on drones and wildfires, explaining that unauthorized UAS flights force firefighters to ground aircraft, and detailing criminal penalties (up to 12 months in prison) and fines ($20,000+) for interference.
   

3. FAA Statement on Los Angeles wildfire drone incident – sUAS News. FAA confirms a firefighting aircraft struck a drone during the Palisades Fire (Jan 2025) and reiterates that flying in a wildfire TFR is illegal, with civil fines up to $75,000 for violators.
   

4. Dan Reese, “Navigating the Challenges of Type 1 UAS for Wildfire ISR” – AerialFire Magazine, Mar 2024. Article advocating use of large Type 1 UAS (8+ hour endurance) for wildfire monitoring, contrasting them with <55 lb Type 3 drones (~1 hour flight) and highlighting their strategic ISR value.
   

5. Jason Pohl, “Drones dropping ‘Dragon Eggs’…Colorado’s latest aerial assault for wildfires” – The Colorado Sun, Aug 28, 2020. Describes a drone burnout operation on the Grizzly Creek Fire using incendiary spheres. Fire managers credit the UAS-delivered backburn with helping contain the fire’s spread.
   

6. NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems – PMS 515 (2019). Interagency guidelines that standardized UAS use on wildfires. Includes UAS typing, pilot requirements, and approval of UAS aerial ignition payloads via NIAC memo 19-02.
   

7. NFPA 2400 (2019) – Standard for sUAS Used for Public Safety Operations. National Fire Protection Association standard outlining minimum requirements for public safety drone programs. Emphasizes need for an sUAS program manager/coordinator, adherence to ICS, training and maintenance protocols.
   

8. Shannon McFarlin, “Lost Hunters Rescued with Thermal Imaging Drones” – Radio NWTN, Dec 28, 2024. News report on Hardin County Fire Department (TN) using two thermal drones to locate a missing 9-year-old and adult hunter at night in a wildlife area, finding them within five minutes.