Wildfire outlook and drones in the fire service

Wildfire outlookIn 2018, Colorado witnessed another historic year for wildfires. Ongoing drought conditions led to the second-worst fire season in state history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.CDFPC statistics show that local fire agencies reported 6,184 wildland fires last year that burned 250,297 acres on state and private lands. Falcon firefighters battled several large grass fires in the Falcon area between February and April. They also assisted other agencies with large wildfires, including the Mile Marker 117 fire in southern El Paso County.What will 2019 bring in terms of wildfires? State fire experts cannot predict the future better than anyone else; but, in a May 7 briefing to the governor, CDFPC personnel said they expect a slightly below average fire season. The CDFPC outlook can be attributed to higher snowpack levels and long-range meteorological forecasts predicting a somewhat cooler and wetter summer and fall.However, that does not mean citizens can let down their guard when it comes to wildfire mitigation and preparation. As noted in the Colorado 2019 Wildfire Preparedness Plan:ìDue to natural fuels build up, declining forest health and increased population in wildland-urban-interface areas, wildfires that exceed the control efforts of local and county resources are becoming more common.îAdditionally, the grasses and brush that have been flourishing with recent precipitation can quickly dry out during periods of warm, dry and windy weather; leaving plenty of fuels for a fire to consume.The Falcon Fire Protection District offers free property mitigation assessments for residents of the fire district. Call 719-495-4050 during normal business hours to schedule an appointment. Mitigation information can also be found on the FFPD website: https://falconfirepd.orgDrones in the fire serviceThe April 15 fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris stunned the world. The fireís location in the roof of the famed structure made for a difficult fire suppression effort. But Paris firefighters received help from a high-tech tool that is growing more popular with public safety agencies across the globe: a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), more commonly known as a drone.AviationToday.com, citing the French newspaper ìLe Parisien,î reported that Paris firefighters utilized two sUAS to help assess the fireís location and progress and to effectively position fire suppression resources. This helped firefighters stop the fire from destroying the 850-year-old landmark. ìIt is thanks to these drones, to this new technique absolutely essential today, that we were able to make tactical choices to stop this fire at a time when it was potentially occupying the two belfries,î said Paris Fire Brigade Bureau Chief Gabriel Plus (translated from French). ìThe drones made it possible to properly engage the means at our disposal.î The sUAS have also been instrumental in conducting damage assessments after the fire.Fire departments across the U.S. have been merging drone technology into their daily operations for several years. The sUAS can quickly gather critical information, minimize risk to personnel, and perform search and rescue tasks during an emergency incident. Drones can be equipped with cameras that record video footage and still images, and transmit them in real-time to incident commanders. They can be outfitted with infrared and thermal imaging cameras, as well as hazardous materials detectors and monitors.Among the uses identified by fire service personnel:

• Perform 360-degree scene surveys to assess fire conditions, structural collapse or potential collapse issues or hazardous materials spills
• Locate wildland fire ignitions and assess fire spread
• Conduct search and rescue in difficult terrain or during natural disasters
• Conduct damage assessments after fires or disasters
• Evaluate training evolutions and large-scale training scenarios
• Capture 360-degree images for pre-incident planning, fire investigation, and post-incident reviews

In response to increased use of sUAS in the fire service, in January 2019, the National Fire Protection Association released†NFPA 2400, ìStandard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations.î This standard details minimum requirements for safe operation, deployment and implementation of unmanned aircraft in the fire service.The Falcon Fire Protection District has been exploring the possibility of a drone program since 2016. However, operating a sUAS for public safety purposes is not as simple as buying a drone and starting to fly it. The Federal Aviation Administration currently has two options for fire departments to comply with its requirements for non-recreational use. One is for the agency to apply for a Certificate of Authorization that specifies areas of operation, how and when drones will be used, pilot training and preflight procedures among other items. The other option is to operate under 14 CFR Part 107 rules for pilots and aircraft. Under Part 107, pilots take a written test at an FAA testing facility to obtain a remote pilot airman certificate. Each option has pros and cons that must be carefully considered before launching a drone program.In addition to meeting FAA requirements, fire departments must identify their specific sUAS needs, develop comprehensive policies and procedures and budget for initial and recurring program expenses. A sUAS is not included in the FFPD 2019 budget, but one department member has been able to undergo training funded by a grant from a private company. The district also has applied for grants to obtain equipment but has not yet received any funding.Website: http://www.falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDeptNextDoor.com