A recommendation from the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission was put into practice over Ballarat last week as night vision goggles were used to hunt for any fires ignited by lightning strikes.
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An Emergency Victoria two-person pilot and crew used a Firebird 302 helicopter customised for night vision purposes for a two-hour reconnaissance mission over the Dandenong Ranges, Healesville, Mount Macedon, Wombat State Forest, south of Ballarat into the Brisbane Ranges and Plenty Gorge.
No fires were detected, but Forest Fire Management Victoria senior aviation officer Bryan Rees said the intent was to continue to build on existing operations while maintaining specialist skills.
“This is exactly the same as reconnaissance day operations that we do all the time – but just at night.
“There are the same challenges with day operations - for example, too much cloud or smoke are still limitations at night.”
Operators of night vision goggles are specially trained and accredited personnel.
