News, deep dives, and analysis — every Wildfire story, newest first.
The Tribal Lands Department recently showcased its latest tool in environmental management: a large, powerful agricultural DJI drone. This new addition to their arsenal was reportedly unveiled at a demonstration following the department’s quarterly meeting on October 4, drawing attention from a curious crowd. A Drone with a Mission Bradley McCrea from the Tribal Lands…
Hawaiian Electric is taking to the skies with drone technology to enhance its wildfire safety strategy. The utility company is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to inspect electrical infrastructure in areas at risk of wildfire across the Big Island, Maui, and Oʻahu. Eyes in the Sky The drones will buzz and hover over neighborhoods, providing…
We have four stories this week: Let’s get to it! GAO Report on Foreign-Made Drones The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the Department of Interior’s (DOI) stance on foreign drones. Currently, the DOI does not allow foreign drones to be used except for emergency situations such as search and rescue and wildfires.…
Let’s get started! DJI Action 5 Released DJI has released the new Action 5. It comes with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, the same size as the Mini 4 Pro. Features include: We’ll be getting our hands on one to check out soon and will be posting content on it. DJI Air 3S Hits FCC Database The…
So far this wildfire season, aerial firefighting activities have faced the persistent nuisance of 21 “public drone incursions,” the National Interagency Fire Center reported. These incidents have predominantly occurred in the U.S. West, with five cases in California, three in Arizona, three in New Mexico, two in Colorado, and one each in Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon,…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a significant step towards enhancing drone operations by adopting initial rules for wireless communications to control uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) safely. These new regulations, focusing on a portion of the 5 GHz spectrum band, aim to support the rapidly growing drone industry, according to Radio World. Spectrum Allocation…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a significant step towards enhancing drone connectivity by approving new rules that allow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to access a portion of the 5 GHz spectrum band. This decision, announced on Thursday, aims to improve wireless connectivity for drones and support their growing applications across various sectors. Key…
A team of firefighters, scientists, and engineers in the UK is developing technology that could revolutionize wildfire detection and suppression using swarms of autonomous drones. According to a BBC report, the project aims to deploy up to 30 large twin-engine drones working collectively with artificial intelligence to spot and extinguish fires before they escalate into…
One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.
