SYDNEY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of drones will be added to the arsenal of one Australian state's emergency department, Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW), which will provide "eyes in the sky" for future fire-fighting operations and other emergencies.
The drones are being rolled out as part of a 5.4 million Australian dollars (about 3.7 million U.S. dollars) investment into emergency services in the state. Around 200 fire fighters would be trained to pilot the drones.
"These drones are being deployed to 25 regional areas, giving FRNSW crews an eye in the sky to help them better fight fires and keep our communities safe," said Minister for Flood Recovery, Emergency Services and Resilience Stephanie Cooke on Tuesday.
The devices are fitted with satellite communication networks meaning that emergency workers would be able to view landscapes in real time and rapidly respond to emergencies.
They also are fitted with thermal imaging cameras which would allow the drones to measure the size of a bushfire and detect animals or people that are in danger.
FRNSW Bushfire and Aviation Unit commander Scott Donohoe said the drones can be activated at an emergency scene within minutes.
"The drones are stored in our vehicles and ready for immediate use, providing FRNSW commanders with aerial images that can help determine the safest and most effective places to position fire trucks and crews," said Donohoe.
The drones have already been put to work in the wake of the floods along Australia's east coast, as they assess the damage to infrastructure and detect leftover debris.
Last week the nation's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) announced a 70 percent chance for a rare third consecutive year of La Nina which likely spells another wetter-than-usual summer.
Past research from the Australian research institute, CSIRO, that tracked Australia's fire seasons going back to 1930 found that while La Nina can reduce fire risk in the short-term, the years following a La Nina system are the riskiest for bush fires.
The study attributed this to the increased "fuel loads" as bushland becomes denser and then dries out due to greater weather extremes brought on by climate change. ■
