Wildland Firefighting
Protecting Crews, Communities, and the Land
Wildland fires are unpredictable, fast-moving, and increasingly destructive. Fire crews, communities, and ecosystems need every possible advantage. Flir thermal imaging solutions give firefighters the ability to see through smoke, track fire spread in real time, and work more safely on the ground and in the air. From handheld thermal imaging cameras (TICs) for local fire departments to advanced airborne and security-mounted systems, Flir supports wildland firefighting worldwide.
Flir for Every Phase of Wildland Firefighting
Whether you’re in the air, on the ground, or coordinating resources, Flir delivers the tools to help firefighters see danger sooner, act faster, and stay safer in wildland fire operations.
Put eyes over the fire to map heat, spot flare-ups, and guide drops when smoke hides the line.
- Best-fit product: Star SAFIRE® 380-HDc – multi-spectral airborne imaging; MWIR for hot-spots, SWIR to see fire lines through heavy smoke; tactical overlays for precise water/retardant drops.
Use it for: perimeter mapping, hot-spot hunts after drops, evac route checks, sharing live imagery with command.
Persistently watch ridgelines, canyons, and communities—through smoke, at night, and in shifting winds.
Best-fit products:
- Triton PT-606Z HD – long-range thermal with continuous zoom to track active flame fronts in dense smoke.
- Elara DX-Series – multispectral PTZ security cameras for 24/7 wildfire monitoring, integration with alert networks and public streams.
Use for: real-time spread tracking, early flare-up alerts, directing crews and protecting evacuation zones.
Give line crews reliable thermal vision for smoke navigation, hot-spot checks, and rescues.
- Best-fit products: Kxx-Series TICs – situational awareness in smoke; locate hot spots, hazards, victims, and crew; rugged for drops, water, and heat.
Use it for: mop-up verification, structure triage, night operations, quick size-up on arrival.
Real-World Wildfire Missions with Flir Thermal Imaging
Supporting Frontline Firefighters
When catastrophic fires swept across Australia, destroying 25.5 million acres, killing 33 people, and displacing more than 1 billion animals, many volunteer firefighters lacked access to advanced tools. Flir responded by donating 90 K1 thermal imaging cameras to more than 80 volunteer fire departments.
- Flir K1 TICs help firefighters navigate smoke, find hot spots, and locate victims or crew members.
- Durable, lightweight design ensures reliability in rugged fireground conditions.
- Enhanced safety for volunteers returning home after every mission.
Aerial Firefighting with Flir
Thermal imaging isn’t just a ground tool—it’s vital in the air. The Swedish National Police deployed helicopters equipped with Flir Star SAFIRE® 380-HDc multi-spectral imaging sensors to support wildfire suppression.
- Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR): Detects hot spots hidden by smoke.
- Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR): Sees through thick smoke to reveal precise fire lines.
- Tactical overlays: Provide command centers with a full aerial view, ensuring precise water drops and crew deployment.
With Flir's airborne technology, commanders were able to save homes, guide evacuees, and prevent fires from reigniting.
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