Igniting the future: Technology on prescribed fire
Fire managers filling the plastic sphere dispenser in the Alta X on Blackberry Prescribed fire on the Helena Ranger District, Montana. (Forest Service photo by Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan)
Along the foothills of the Big Belt Mountains near York, Montana, it’s unusual to see bare ground above 5,…
#Fire, #PrescribedFire, #ControlledBurn, #UAS, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #WildfireAwarenessMonth, #HelenaLewisAndClarkNationalForest, #Technology, #Drones
Busy airspace
Note: While unauthorized drones in restricted airspace can halt firefighting air operations, the Forest Service is increasingly incorporating uncrewed aerial systems in wildfire operations. From 2019 to 2025 the Forest Service has increased drone flights by 2,483% on active incidents (…
#Drones, #UAS, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Safety, #Fire, #Firesafety, #Flying, #Recreation, #Aviation
Filming and Photography
Cameraman McCarthy and Director Chas. MacDonald on location during the filming of the “Blessing” on Hot springs, Montana, Beaverhead National Forest. (USDA Forest Service photo).
How the Forest Service manages filming and photography authorizations changed with the passage of the Expanding…
#Filming, #Photos, #CommercialUse, #Permitting, #SpecialUsePermits, #Policy, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Drones, #UAS, #Recreation, #SpecialUses
Ping-pong balls and drones: Future of fire in the forest
Ping-pong balls to ignite prescribed fire can be used with drones larger than this Vision Aerial Switchblade Elite (Type 4). USDA Forest Service photo by Kaitlyn Tyler.
ARIZONA—Drier, hotter days create the perfect climate for wildfires to spread violently, rushing into neighboring…
#Drones, #FirefighterSafety, #Safety, #WildlandFirefighting, #PrescribedFire, #UnmannedAircraftSystems
Aviation Accident Prevention Bulletins
Forest Service (FSAAPB) and Interagency (IAAPB)Aviation Accident Prevention Bulletins are green bordered and published on an as needed basis. They are utilized to disseminate information of a general nature regarding aircraft mishap prevention concepts, methods, procedures and efforts.Forest ServiceFSAPB 202525-01 Hazardous Behaviors, Norms and ObservationsFSAPB 201616-01 Helicopter Maneuvering…
#Fire, #Aviation, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Wildfire, #FireAndAviationManagement, #Firefighters, #WildlandFire, #WildlandFirefighting, #Safety, #FirefighterSafety
Flying Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Natural Resource Management Purposes on Forest System Lands
The U.S. Forest Service is highly interested in new technologies such as Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). There is potential for the agency to fly UAS for a host of natural resource management purposes, including wildfire management; disaster response; law enforcement support; forest health monitoring; research; and forest and range management.The U.S. Forest Service has been considering and…