Keeping the skies clear for firefighting operations In recent years, drone popularity has surged tremendously. Yet, as these flying devices gain traction, they’ve presented new challenges, especially around firefighting zones. CalFire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, is…
Washington state Firefighters are at their wits’ end. Drones, flown by curious onlookers, are hovering over wildfires, making their challenging job even more difficult. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expressed its frustration with the public through a…
A flagship Russian supersonic jet, the Tupolev Tu-22, was reportedly destroyed by a Ukrainian Drone Strike, with photos of the flaming aircraft emerging on social platforms. According to the BBC and Ukrainian media outlets, the aircraft, which had been significantly…
The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) has taken a giant leap in enhancing rescue operations with Chinese-made DJI drones. On Saturday, Aug. 19, CSFD launched its inaugural Special Operations Unit, providing 24/7 drone assistance and more. This brand-new team didn’t…
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department has deployed advanced DJI drones from China to combat the increased wildfire risk in the challenging terrain of the East Bay Hills. Following a particularly wet winter season, the rapid growth and subsequent drying out…
In a bid to ramp up the battle against wildfires, drones are soaring onto the scene, thanks to federal lawmakers’ initiatives. Yet, the bureaucratic entanglements around regulations and procurement pose significant challenges, prompting Congress to bolster unmanned aircraft’s use for…
In a remarkable demonstration of teamwork and technological prowess, emergency services in Billings, Montana, combined forces for an effective multi-agency water rescue operation on July 9, 2023. Responding to a distress call from the Yellowstone River, the emergency teams ensured…
In an effort to combat the increasing threat of wildfires, Portugal has brought to the fore an innovative approach – a firefighting drone capable of dousing flames from above. The pioneering technology was put through a trial run in May,…
On Saturday, a teenage drone pilot in rural Colorado became an unlikely hero when his flying device stumbled upon a disturbing sight – an SUV, overturned and sinking into a floodwater-filled sinkhole. This harrowing discovery by 18-year-old Josh Logue led…
Welcome to this week’s Unmanned Tactical Group and Pilot Institute’s Public Safety UAS News Update. On today’s agenda, we’re going to be talking about the Federal House of Representatives House Bill H-6572, which is a full ban on DJI across…
Personal drone enthusiasts who’ve considered capturing wildfires from above should think twice, especially in Montana. This week, Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 219 into law, joining several other states in criminalizing drone operations that obstruct aerial Wildfire suppression. The freshly…
In the nick of time for the fire season, local fire departments have welcomed a new ally to their ranks: high-tech drones. When a blaze devoured 40 acres of land by the Virgin River in Washington City, Utah on May…
