Leonard Pies and Jordan Hahn with Precision Integrated Programs/Overwatch Aero perform pre-flight maintenance on the FVR-90 fixed wing drone, before takeoff to fly around the perimeter of the Lightning Complex Fire near Willow Creek, Wednesday, Aug. 31. USDA Forest Service photo/Andrew Avitt photo
Andrew Avitt, USDA Pacific Southwest RegionSpecial to the Valley NewsThe robotic birds of the sky, known colloquially as drones, were a menace to the wildland firefighting community. The mere appearance of a recreational drone in the skies near a wildfire called for the grounding of all firefighting aircraft, giving birth to catchy sayings like “If you fly, we can’t,” and “It’s not worth the view.”While these sayings are still true, drones – also called UAS or unmanned aerial systems – are playing an increasingly important role in fighting wildfires.No, drones can’t drop thousands of gallons of water or fire retardant like a supertanker. They also cannot deliver thousands of pounds of supplies like the K-MAX helicopter or evacuate injured firefighters like
