Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can offer firefighters a window into the heart of forest fires. Surveillance footage captured by drones can give officials who are coordinating firefighting efforts vital information about where to deploy ground crews.
Crews battling the Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park in August 2013, which ultimately burned more than 400 square miles, used Predator drones to determine which resources to deploy and where to send them, the Associated Press reported.
Smaller drones can also serve as floating wireless hot spots in the field for firefighters who rely on smart phones and tablets to communicate with commanders.
Some municipalities in the US and around the globe are starting to use drone quadcopters, small remote-controlled helicopters with four rotors, to patrol remote areas for fires.
