Fire From Above: South Florida Enhances Prescribed Fire Management with Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) make firefighting a little easier. In Fiscal Year 2024, UAS were used in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. They provided an aerial view of the landscape before and after prescribed fires to find out how the burn affected vegetation. Getting this view from above has been helpful for mapping and gaining imagery for prescribed fire units. “These images can then help in the planning stages for future prescribed fire operations, allowing us to determine areas that are more susceptible to wildfire and where we should focus operations” said Nick Connolly, UAS pilot at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Firefighters used UAS for aerial ignition on the Nobles prescribed fire at Big Cypress National Preserve. “UAS provides flexibility to the operations that crewed aircraft does not, especially when it comes to small, precise firing operations,” said Dylan Scott, UAS pilot, Everglades National Park. UAS may be the best tool for ignition along roadways and where precise placement is important for success. “UAS can more safely use aerial ignition closer to the ground without the rotor wash and increased fire behavior that often comes with crewed aircraft” added Scott.

UAS has become an essential tool to conduct ignition operations in prescribed fire management. If you happen to watch prescribed fire operations on national parks in South Florida, you may see a UAS igniting fire from above. UAS has been used to target isolated pine islands or other pockets of fuel (vegetation) in larger units. It is also used to quickly pull fire away from homes and infrastructure and create buffers in sensitive areas along the edge of burn units. UAS aerial ignition treated 7,191 acres across South Florida National Parks & Preserve.

Two South Florida Fire & Aviation firefighters became certified as aerial ignition pilots. This brings the total pilots to three. This enables South Florida National Parks & Preserve more flexibility to conduct UAS operations. As firefighters continue to gain certification, potential for using UAS grows. It can be used for ignition, mapping, scouting, and much more! UAS has found its place in the world of fire management.