OFF Drones

Fighting Wildfires With Drones

The Ventura County Fire Department uses the DJI Matrice 4T drone with thermal and zoom cameras to quickly detect wildfire hotspots and map fire perimeters, reducing what used to take days down to just 30 minutes. The drone’s advanced sensors and real-time data help firefighters safely monitor fires day and night, guide crews to critical areas, and improve decision-making while minimizing risk. This technology has revolutionized wildfire response by providing faster, safer, and more precise firefighting capabilities.

How drones can assist in:

Firefighting

Urban Fires

DJI Enterprise drones assist urban firefighting by providing aerial thermal imaging and high-resolution visual data that help firefighters see through smoke, identify hotspots, and assess fire severity in real time. This aerial perspective enables rapid risk assessment, better coordination among fire brigades, and more effective deployment of resources to protect people and property in complex urban environments.

Core Points:

Thermal cameras detect hotspots obscured by smoke, debris, or flames
Real-time aerial imagery improves situational awareness and risk assessment
Enhances communication and coordination between firefighting teams
Enables strategic deployment of personnel and resources to critical areas

Example:
Fire departments use drones like the DJI Matrice 4T to fly over urban fire scenes, streaming live thermal and visual video to command centers. This helps prioritize major fire sources and deploy teams effectively, overcoming challenges posed by limited ground views and complex building layouts

‍

Wildfires

DJI Enterprise drones revolutionize wildfire response by providing persistent aerial surveillance with thermal and zoom cameras to detect hotspots, map fire perimeters, and monitor fire behaviour in real time. They improve responder safety by allowing remote assessment of hazardous areas and accelerate operations such as mop-up by locating lingering heat signatures, significantly reducing time and manpower needed.

Core Points:

Continuous thermal surveillance identifies active fire edges and hidden hotspots
High-resolution mapping supports strategic resource allocation and containment
Enhances firefighter safety by enabling remote monitoring of dangerous zones
Speeds up mop-up operations by detecting residual heat signatures quickly

Example:
The Ventura County Fire Department uses the DJI Matrice 4T to detect hotspots during wildfires, perform night-time operations, and create georeferenced thermal maps. This technology has cut mop-up time from days to minutes and improved overall wildfire management and safety

‍

Additional Response

Beyond direct firefighting, DJI Enterprise drones support additional emergency responses such as hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents, search and rescue (SAR), and disaster assessment. Equipped with thermal imaging, zoom cameras, spotlights, and loudspeakers, drones provide critical situational data, locate trapped or missing persons, and assess hazardous environments remotely, enhancing safety and operational effectiveness.

Core Points:

Thermal and zoom cameras assess hazardous materials scenes without risking personnel
Search and rescue operations locate heat signatures of trapped or lost individuals
Spotlights and loudspeakers aid nighttime operations and communication with victims
Post-incident mapping documents damage for analysis and recovery planning

Example:
During a night-time HAZMAT incident, the Ventura County Fire Department deployed DJI Mavic 3T (newest: Matrice 4T) drones to assess the scene safely before sending in entry teams. In wildfire SAR, drones have located lost individuals quickly by detecting body heat, even under dense canopy or darkness, speeding rescues and reducing risk to ground crews

‍

Key Features for Firefighting Rapid Response

Multi-Sensor Payload:

Thermal Camera: High-resolution 640 × 512 infrared thermal sensor with ultra-high-res mode (up to 1280 × 1024 pixels) for precise hotspot detection and temperature mapping, even through smoke or darkness.
Wide-Angle Camera: 48 MP 1/1.3" CMOS sensor with f/1.7 aperture for clear, detailed aerial imagery.
Medium Telephoto and Telephoto Cameras: Both 48 MP with 70 mm and 168 mm focal lengths respectively, providing powerful zoom capabilities to inspect fire scenes and hazards from a safe distance.
NIR Auxiliary Light: Illuminates up to 100 meters, enabling full-color night vision and improved visibility in low-light or smoky conditions.

Rapid Deployment & Flight Endurance:

Ready for takeoff within 15 seconds, critical for time-sensitive fire emergencies.
Up to 49 minutes of flight time per battery, allowing extended aerial monitoring without frequent interruptions.
Foldable arms and compact design facilitate quick transport and setup at incident sites.

Precision Positioning and Navigation:
- Built-in RTK support for centimeter-level GPS accuracy, enabling precise mapping and repeatable flight paths for hotspot monitoring and perimeter assessments.
- GNSS + Vision Fusion navigation ensures stable flight in complex environments, including dense smoke or urban canyons.

Intelligent AI and Flight Modes:
- AI-powered subject detection to track vehicles, people, or fire hotspots in real-time.
- Automated flight modes such as Cruise, FlyTo, and Point of Interest (POI) optimize coverage of fire scenes and perimeter sweeps.

Accessory Compatibility:
- Supports DJI AL1 Spotlight and AS1 Speaker modules for enhanced night operations and remote communication with ground teams or civilians.

‍

Firefighting Applications

Hotspot Detection and Monitoring
Identify active fire zones, smoldering debris, and potential reignition points quickly, even through smoke and darkness, reducing risk to ground crews.
Damage Assessment and Situational Awareness
Capture high-resolution visual and thermal imagery to assess structural damage, map fire perimeters, and guide resource allocation.
Search and Rescue Support
Locate trapped or injured individuals in wildfire or urban fire scenarios using thermal imaging, and communicate instructions via integrated speaker accessories.
Night and Low-Visibility Operations
Utilize full-color night vision and auxiliary lighting to maintain operational capability around the clock, critical for wildfire mop-up and urban fire containment.

‍

Product Links

DJI Matrice 350 RTK

High Performance Fire Response

DJI Matrice 350 RTK + Zenmuse H30T

The DJI Matrice 350 RTK, equipped with the Zenmuse H30T, offers a high-performance fire response solution tailored for urban fires, wildfires, and additional firefighting missions. This combination enhances situational awareness and safety for firefighting teams through advanced thermal imaging, high-resolution zoom, and precise target location capabilities.

Product Links

DJI Matrice 350 RTK Thermal Payload: Zenmuse H30T DJI Matrice 4T

Hight Precision D-RTK 3 Multifunction Station

The D-RTK 3 Multifunctional Station can serve as a base station to provide centimeter-level positioning for multiple drones simultaneously or extend the operational range of drones in relay station mode. Additionally, the new Rover Station Mode, combined with the DJI Enterprise app and DJI Terra, provides a comprehensive solution for high-precision aerial surveying applications, ensuring a secure and accurate operation.

View RTK Equipment

Hight Precision D-RTK 2 GNSS Mobile Station

The D-RTK 2 is a rugged, portable GNSS base station that delivers centimeter-level positioning accuracy for DJI Agriculture Drones, supporting all major satellite systems and enabling multi-drone operations for precise mapping, surveying, and inspection.

View RTK Equipment