Australia is in the midst of an unprecedented bushfire season. Over 23 people have lost their lives, over 1500 homes have been destroyed and over 500 million animals have perished, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Over 5 million hectares of land has burned.
Our climate is changing and disasters on this scale will become more frequent.
Drones have an essential role to play in the management of fires, before, during and after, and they can make a huge difference in taking our first responders away from unnecessary risk of harm. I’ve written a short article on how a national drone firefighting capability could help to protect those who protect us.
If you want to donate to those in need as a result of the fires, the Intrepid Foundation will match your donations: The Red Cross Bushfire Emergency Appeal