Standard Operating Guidelines For Drones At Structure Fires

Drones are becoming valuable tools at building fires, giving incident commanders an aerial view when smoke, heat, unstable structures or blocked access make ground-level assessment difficult. A remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) can support fireground intelligence without placing crews in unnecessary danger.

The benefits depend on disciplined procedures. A standard operating guideline should explain when a drone may be launched, who controls the operation, how information is shared and when the aircraft must be grounded. It should complement existing incident management arrangements rather than create a separate chain of command.

For Australian agencies, the framework must reflect local aviation rules, state and territory fire services, work health and safety duties and community expectations about surveillance. A practical guideline should be usable by metropolitan brigades in Sydney or Melbourne, volunteer services in regional communities and multi-agency teams responding to major incidents.

Define The Operational Purpose

The guideline should begin by identifying the problems a drone is intended to solve. Common uses include locating fire spread, identifying roof or wall collapse, checking access routes, assessing exposure risks and supporting search operations after evacuation. The aircraft may also help commanders understand conditions in areas that are unsafe for an immediate crew entry.

Each mission should have a clear objective, an authorised operator and a defined decision-maker. A launch request might come from the incident controller, operations officer or a nominated intelligence function. The purpose should be recorded in the incident log, along with the expected operating area, duration and information required.

A drone should not be deployed simply because it is available. If a ground crew, fixed camera, helicopter or other source can provide the information more safely and effectively, the incident commander should consider that option.

Establish Command And Crew Responsibilities

An RPAS team needs clear roles before an emergency occurs. The remote pilot manages flight safety and compliance, while a visual observer monitors the aircraft, surrounding airspace and changing hazards. A mission or payload operator may control the camera, thermal sensor and mapping functions without distracting the pilot.

The incident controller retains authority over operational priorities. The drone crew should report through the agreed command structure and use standard radio terminology. Fireground personnel need to know where the aircraft is operating, what it is observing and how its findings could affect entry, ventilation, exclusion zones or evacuation decisions.

Guidelines should also cover handovers between shifts, loss of communications, pilot fatigue and the circumstances requiring a mission to stop. A flight must be terminated if the aircraft becomes unreliable, the operating area cannot be safely monitored, weather exceeds limits or crew activity creates an unacceptable collision risk.

Address Australian Aviation And Safety Requirements

Australian agencies should align their procedures with Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements for remotely piloted aircraft. The organisation must determine whether its operations require a relevant licence, certificate, approvals or documented operating permissions. Restrictions concerning controlled airspace, aerodromes, emergency areas, people and property should be assessed before deployment.

An emergency does not remove the need for responsible aviation decision-making. The pilot should check airspace information, identify nearby heliports and coordinate with police aviation units, media helicopters, medical aircraft and other RPAS operators. Temporary restrictions or an agreed airspace coordination process may be needed at large incidents.

Work health and safety controls should address battery handling, propeller hazards, vehicle positioning, heat, smoke, poor visibility and operating near energized infrastructure. Agencies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and other jurisdictions should connect their drone procedures with existing fireground safety systems and state-based emergency management arrangements.

Set Flight And Sensor Rules

A guideline should define minimum conditions for launch, including weather, visibility, lighting, wind, temperature and proximity to structures. Thermal cameras can assist with hidden heat and roof inspections, but operators must understand their limits. Reflections, hot surfaces, solar gain and smoke can produce misleading images.

Flight paths should be planned to reduce exposure to falling debris, wires, water streams and turbulence around buildings. The pilot should maintain the required visual awareness of the aircraft unless an approved operating method permits otherwise. Drones should avoid unnecessary flight over members of the public, neighbouring properties and evacuation routes.

Sensor use also requires restraint. Zoom imagery, thermal data and recordings should be limited to the operational purpose. Agencies should prohibit casual filming, personal use of footage and collection of unrelated information about occupants, bystanders or nearby homes.

Manage Privacy, Evidence And Information

Fire incidents can involve distressing scenes, private property and sensitive personal information. The guideline should explain when recording is necessary, who may view it and how long material will be retained. Australian privacy obligations may vary according to the agency, jurisdiction and purpose, so legal and information governance officers should review the policy.

Operational footage should be transferred through approved systems rather than personal phones or consumer cloud accounts. Files should carry reliable time, location and mission information, with access controls and audit records. If imagery could support an investigation, agencies should preserve the original file and document its handling.

The policy should distinguish between live intelligence and material retained for later review. Live video may help a commander identify changing conditions, while archived imagery could assist fire investigation, insurance processes, coronial inquiries or prosecutions. Each use requires appropriate authority and documentation.

Train, Exercise And Review The Guideline

Competency should cover aviation law, flight planning, emergency procedures, thermal imaging, radio communication, privacy, cyber security and fireground awareness. A pilot who can operate the aircraft still needs to understand incident command and the hazards of active structure fires.

Regular exercises should include communications failure, a simulated manned aircraft approach, loss of GPS, battery problems, poor visibility and a sudden change in fire behaviour. Agencies can train with local fire services, police, ambulance providers and councils. In Australia, cooperation with organisations such as Fire and Rescue NSW, Country Fire Authority or Queensland Fire and Emergency Services may help align procedures across boundaries.

Every deployment should generate a short operational review. Supervisors can examine whether the mission answered the original question, whether the aircraft affected other aviation activity, and whether information reached commanders quickly enough. Lessons should update the guideline, training package and equipment choices, including products available through the Australian public-safety and emergency-technology market.

A strong procedure turns drone capability into dependable incident support. Public safety agencies should consult pilots, firefighters, commanders, legal advisers, privacy officers and community representatives before approving the document. The Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Public Safety provides a useful foundation for this work through guidance on policy, training, responsible deployment and public trust.

Use these principles to draft a jurisdiction-specific guideline, test it during realistic exercises and review it after every significant flight. Clear authority, safe aviation practice, careful data handling and transparent community engagement will help agencies gain the benefits of aerial intelligence while protecting crews and the public.