A drone dropping fire-starting spheres has been put to work over 44ha of bushland in a Logan City Council trial aimed at making planned burns quicker and safer.
The technology was used at Birnam Range Reserve at Mundoolun on Tuesday 15 September as crews carried out a controlled burn to reduce bushfire risk ahead of summer.
Mayor Jon Raven said drones could reach terrain that was difficult for crews to cross on foot.
“Drones can be deployed a lot more quickly than people over steep or thick terrain and are accurate to within 2m of a targeted GPS location,” Cr Raven said.
“This method is safe and effective and, best of all, it allows us to complete large-scale burns quickly.
“That’s critical when we are also limited to doing these burns in certain weather conditions.”
Each drone can carry up to 450 fire-starting spheres about the size of ping-pong balls.
The devices ignite shortly after landing, with between 10 and 120 spheres able to be dropped each minute over set distances.
Cr Raven says the precision can also help crews preserve a corridor for wildlife to move through as a burn progresses.
The drone is operated by a Civil Aviation Safety Authority-qualified chief remote pilot.
The trial is part of the city’s planned-burning program.
Cr Raven said households and businesses should also prepare for the coming fire season.
“There are simple things you can start now, like clearing your roof and gutters and mowing your grass,” he said.
“It’s never too early to plan for fire season.”
Residents can check the council’s planned-burn schedule online for information about work in local parks and reserves.
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