Rural firefighters in NSW are responding faster and safer as a result of new technology which is helping detect fires earlier, improve situational awareness and strengthen communications in remote areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AI-powered camera systems, thermal-imaging drones and expanded satellite connectivity are transforming how emergency services detect, assess and manage bush fires \u2013 giving crews earlier warnings, clearer intelligence and better on-ground coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the past year alone, high-definition cameras have detected nearly 4,000 fires \u2013 giving agencies critical early warnings and helping crews make faster and more informed decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cameras have played a key role in a range of recent incidents across the state, including the early detection of fires prior to Triple Zero (000) calls in the Riverina late last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The drone capability of the RFS also continues to be expanded, with more than 50 trained pilots now positioned across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equipped with thermal imaging, drones provide live vision of firegrounds and help identify hot spots after a main fire has passed. They can be rapidly deployed to emerging incidents or areas of concern, giving crews clearer, real-time picture of conditions and improving safety for firefighters on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This bush fire season has marked a major step forward in modernising frontline communications, building on recommendations from the NSW Bushfire Inquiry to strengthen the RFS fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vehicles are being upgraded with enhanced connectivity, including an on-going roll-out of satellite-enabled systems (Vehicle as a Node technology) and thousands of trucks equipped with Mobile Data Terminals to improve crews\u2019 communication, connectivity and safety in remote and disaster-impacted areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the season began on 1 October, the RFS has responded to more than 8,750 bush and grass fires, as broad areas of the state continue to experience drying conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minns Labor Government is investing over $2.2 billion in emergency services, uplifting capability and boosting resources across NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery minute matters when a fire starts. This upgraded technology helps fire crews arrive better informed and better prepared to tackle the fire and keep communities safe, especially in remote areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese improvements are helping create a more connected fireground where technology supports the people making critical decisions in rapidly changing conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve responded to all 76 recommendations of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry report and we\u2019re investing in technology that supports volunteers to stay ahead of increasingly challenging fire conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commissioner of the RFS Trent Curtin said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen fighting bush fires, the value of early detection and accurate situational awareness cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe ability to access real-time imagery, particularly in remote and high-risk areas, helps us build a clearer picture of fire behaviour and conditions as incidents unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProjects like these ensure the RFS can continue to adapt and evolve in support of our volunteers and the communities they protect.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rural firefighters in NSW are responding faster and safer as a result of new technology which is helping detect fires earlier, improve situational awareness and strengthen communications in remote areas. AI-powered camera systems, thermal-imaging drones and expanded satellite connectivity are transforming how emergency services detect, assess and manage bush fires \u2013 giving crews earlier warnings, … Continue reading “Innovative technology supporting faster, smarter bush fire response”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38073"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38074,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38073\/revisions\/38074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}