How drones elevate QPWS Planned Burns

Issued
17 February 2026
Regions

As Queensland’s bushfire seasons become longer and more intense, innovation in fire management has never been more important. 

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Rangers are integrating drone technology into fire management, delivering both safety and environmental benefits across the state.

We are continually learning, adapting and improving our fire management practices to enhance our capacity and capability to help keep parks and forests and nearby communities safe from the risk of bushfires while fostering a healthy environment through planned burns.

Senior Ranger Greg said that in the ever-evolving landscape of public safety and environmental management, QPWS is putting technology to good use.

'With the use of drones in monitoring fuel reduction burns and bushfire management now being standard practice, it’s astonishing to witness the advanced technology in action,’ he said.

Ranger in a yellow high-visibility uniform stands on a wooden lookout deck operating a drone controller, with a drone on the ground nearby; beside it, a thermal aerial image shows heat signatures across forested hills.Open larger image

During an aerial burn in the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park, Rangers deployed the thermal drone.

'I had the privilege to put the capabilities of the new drone to the test.'

'This innovative aircraft is redefining how we engage with natural hazard management,' Senior Ranger Greg said.

Equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging, real-time data transmission, and sophisticated sensors, the thermal drone allows fire crews to:

  • See through dense smoke,
  • Pinpoint fire activity with accurate temperature readings,
  • Monitor burn coverage with detailed imagery, and
  • Inform assessment of the planned burn effectiveness.

'Where once we stood armed with binoculars and a simple camera, we now deploy drones that dramatically enhance our observational capacity.

'It significantly improves the safety, understanding and efficiency of our operations.'

Aerial view of forested mountain valleys with smoke rising from multiple bushfire hotspots under a clear blue sky.Open larger image

By collecting live, accurate information from above, the drone helps Rangers make quicker, better-informed decisions, particularly in difficult-to-access or hazardous areas.

Beyond technological benefits, the use of drones also marks a shift in how QPWS protects its natural landscapes and communities.

'It’s a poignant reminder of how far we’ve come in our quest to manage bushfires,' Senior Ranger Greg said.

As fire management continues to evolve, QPWS remains committed to combining decades of land management expertise with the best tools modern science has to offer.

To learn more about QPWS’s work in fire and land management, or to stay informed on the outcomes of planned burns, visit our Fire management webpage or follow us on social media:

Related parks

  • Main Range National Park

    Impressive mountain peaks, escarpments and ridges offer breathtaking views in this Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, a home for rare and endangered wildlife and a popular bushwalking destination.

  • Main Range Conservation Park

    Where open woodland and dense rainforest meet at the head of the Tenthill Valley, fortified by distinctive rocky outcrops and steep, exposed ridges of the Great Dividing and Mistake ranges…

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