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The U.S. Forest Service is using drones to help fight wildfires in Mississippi.According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, there have been 517 wildfires since August 1, most of those in the coastal area. More than 9,000 acres of land have been burned. Forty counties remain under burn bans.The Forest Service said they have used drones in around a dozen of those fires.Jacob Schuler is the module leader for the drone unit.”Once we get on the scene of the fire, we launch. We get up in the air, and we can provide eyes in the sky for the command staff, for the resources on the ground, so we basically can see what the fire is doing at all times,” Schuler said.Schuler said aviation accidents in fighting wildfires are the most common.”If the drone crashes, it’s an expensive piece of equipment, but you ain’t gotta worry about life,” said U.S. Forest Service District Field Management Officer William Hudson.Two of the drones are equipped with infrared cameras. They can also detect wind direction and are able to let crews know which areas around the fire are safe.”For example, if there’s a thick column of smoke that we cannot see through, with that infrared camera, we can punch through that smoke column and see resources on the ground, what the fire is doing. We can fly at night with the thermal camera,” Schuler said.The Forest Service said they also use the drones when making controlled burns in forest areas around the state.
The U.S. Forest Service is using drones to help fight wildfires in Mississippi.
According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, there have been 517 wildfires since August 1, most of those in the coastal area. More than 9,000 acres of land have been burned. Forty counties remain under burn bans.
The Forest Service said they have used drones in around a dozen of those fires.
Jacob Schuler is the module leader for the drone unit.
“Once we get on the scene of the fire, we launch. We get up in the air, and we can provide eyes in the sky for the command staff, for the resources on the ground, so we basically can see what the fire is doing at all times,” Schuler said.
Schuler said aviation accidents in fighting wildfires are the most common.
“If the drone crashes, it’s an expensive piece of equipment, but you ain’t gotta worry about life,” said U.S. Forest Service District Field Management Officer William Hudson.
Two of the drones are equipped with infrared cameras. They can also detect wind direction and are able to let crews know which areas around the fire are safe.
“For example, if there’s a thick column of smoke that we cannot see through, with that infrared camera, we can punch through that smoke column and see resources on the ground, what the fire is doing. We can fly at night with the thermal camera,” Schuler said.
The Forest Service said they also use the drones when making controlled burns in forest areas around the state.
