Drones equipped with optical and thermal imaging are being assessed to help Canberra's firefighters navigate their way through smoke-filled buildings and find people collapsed inside.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency's new chief fire officer Matt Mavity said this new firefighting technology was already in use in other jurisdictions and "we have to be ahead of the curve to deal with the challenges ahead of us".
"There are so many upsides to this technology," said Mr Mavity, who was newly installed as Canberra's fire chief last week.
"They [drones] are quick, they are-low risk to human life, we can put thermal imaging on them which can tell exactly where the intense heat is, and maintain safety by being effective and efficient.
"And we can target our response, which means less water damage to a building."
For decades, firefighters have faced the dilemma of never knowing quite what situation they will face as they enter a building affected by smoke and fire, or even knowing whether people still remain inside, perhaps collapsed, trapped or affected by smoke inhalation.
Carrying heavy breathing apparatus such as an air tank and breather mask is usually a necessity but that equipment also hampers visibility and cuts out peripheral vision. And a rapid response time, as always, is of the essence.
"It [a drone] can also detect the heat of humans, so we know where to search," he said.
"These are important technological advances that means firefighters are less exposed in the immediate danger to life and health environment."
He said one of the major issues in deploying firefighting drone technology in Canberra's suburbs was the ACT's more complex airspace regulations compared to other cities.
"Canberra has its airport close to the city. It has a Defence overlay, so there are all those considerations for us to be compliant," he said.
"So we have to navigate that regulatory environment to get it to happen."
He believed it wasn't just a matter of grabbing the latest firefighting technology available, but also making the best use of it.
"It's not always about using a tool for the purpose for which it was invented, it's how you can use it to your best advantage," he said.
He said a drone operating above a burning building "would tell us things about the structure and give us three-dimensional awareness".
"But when we're inside the building we are talking about a confined environment," he said.
"So we see a real use for one which can give us GPS-type telemetry, so that if any of our people experience a difficulty, or an adverse event in that fire, we can get to them quickly and rescue the rescuer, if you like.
"We are looking at that individual accountability and tracking capability, thermal imaging and forward-looking infra-red to speed up our searches and look for danger spots.
"And we need communications that are absolutely uninterruptible to ensure that chain of accountability for our people's safety."
ACT Fire & Rescue is expected to take delivery of the country's first electric fire truck, already well-developed by German fire appliance specialists Rosenbauer, next year.
