Emergency Response: Wildfire Operations
Multi-payload rapid response from vehicle deployment
A state fire agency needed rapid aerial assessment capability during wildfire events. They required thermal mapping for hotspot identification, visual assessment for structural damage, night operation capability, and public address for evacuation alerts, all from a single platform deployable from a tactical vehicle within minutes.
HERA deployed from a tactical vehicle, operational in under 60 seconds. VianSight thermal + visual payload identified hotspots and structural damage simultaneously. LED module (200W, 32,000 lumens) enabled night operations, while loudspeaker system delivered evacuation alerts across affected areas. 56-minute flight time provided extended situational awareness.
Average response time from alert to airborne was 12 minutes. Each sortie assessed 3× more area than the legacy single-sensor drone. Night operations became viable with the NVG-compatible LED module. Evacuation notification via loudspeaker reached affected areas 40% faster than ground-based PA systems.
“Having thermal, visual, lighting, and PA in one backpack-deployable platform saved critical minutes during active wildfire response.”