14 Nebraska State Patrol drone pilots train to help crews battle wildfires

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska experienced its worst wildfire season in recent memory in 2022.

So this year, fire personnel will get some extra help from the Nebraska State Patrol and its drone program thanks to a new initiative.

The Nebraska State Patrol announced Thursday that 14 of its drone pilots have been trained to help crews battle wildfires.

The troopers, who will be stationed across the state, received Red Card Wildland Fire Training through the Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy, the patrol said.

That’s training that every firefighter goes through.

“Now our team knows how to respond, how to safely move throughout a fire so we don’t end up in a spot where we get ourselves hurt or get somebody else hurt trying to save us,” Trooper Matthew Maus said. “It also gives us the opportunity to be a better asset.”

In 2022, troopers flew missions at 10 wildfires in Nebraska, including ones that required multiple drone pilots.

“When the Cambridge fire came, we were actually on the front lines, watching the fire movement,” Maus said. “We were able to track and relay back either live feed or radio communication where they fire was.”

The drones provide a real-time view of fire activity for firefighters battling the blaze.

Maus said the drones use infrared to find hot spots, which are sometimes deep in the ground.

“We would go through and flag those areas, which would save time, money and effort for a lot of firefighters,” he said.

Communication is key when dealing with the chaos of a wildfire.

Maus said the initiative will either continue to grow or shrink, depending on the need.

“We are open for expanding or shrinking or doing whatever needs to be done, for not only the benefit of the public but the benefits of the requesting agencies,” he said.

With warmer weather approaching, the patrol and the Nebraska Forest Service remind Nebraskans to be aware of fire danger in dry conditions.

Whether you’re extinguishing your campfire or flying a drone over a monstrous blaze, everyone can do their part this wildfire season.