Advancing use of technology in fire management through cultural and prescribed fire

Cultural and prescribed fire projects have proven to be an excellent testbed where we can pilot new technologies in a planned, controlled environment. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones are a good example of this. Incorporating drones into cultural and prescribed fire operations over the past six years has already enhanced worker safety and unearthed efficiencies. With the many parallels between cultural and prescribed fire and wildfire response, our lessons learned about drones have already served as stepping stones to improved wildfire management strategies.