Drones could help control BC wildfires
Posted November 3, 2015 10:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Little drones could be a big help in controlling wildfires across BC, but only if the technology is in the right hands.
That’s according to Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek, who says drones were tested over three major forest fires in July and August.
The machines were equipped with technology to detect and pinpoint hotspots — allowing more accurate targeting by fire crews — but use of the drones came at the same time as several privately operated machines grounded helicopters trying to battle wildfires near Kelowna and Oliver.
Skrepnek says the difference is that the Forest Service drones had special Transport Canada certificates and were flown mostly at night when other aircraft were not in the air.
