Meet the UAS pilots from Alaska fighting the fire near Halsey

THEDFORD, Neb. — As crews battle the Road 203 Fire in the Nebraska Sandhills near Halsey, new technology is playing a key role in improving both safety and efficiency on the fire line.

Among those supporting the response are UAS pilots from Alaska, using drones equipped with infrared technology to locate hot spots and guide firefighters on the ground.

Alex Simpson and Dustin Wessel are part of that effort, operating drones that can detect heat.

“Increasing safety and efficiency, so we’re able to send a firefighter in the field the exact latitude and longitude of a hot spot. They spend less time under trees and aimlessly walking, searching for these heats,” said Simpson.

“The technology speeds up the process and takes the risk away from firefighters on the ground, showing them where the heat is and saving time,” said Wessel.

Wessel, who serves as the UAS coordinator for the Bureau of Land Management Alaska, said the program has expanded significantly in recent years. When he started in 2017, there were about 10 pilots. Today, that number has grown to around 200.

“The technology we’re using shows operations where the fire is currently, where it could progress, if there are structures nearby, and water sources for firefighters. There are so many different ways we can use this tool these days,” said Wessel.

For Simpson, this is his first fire as a trainee drone operator, though he has more than a decade of firefighting experience. He said seeing the technology in action firsthand convinced him to get involved.

“I was on a prescribed fire where it saved us from walking sidehill for miles and miles. The drone just filled in, and it worked great. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. Those drones are pretty cool. I should look into that,’” said Simpson.

In addition to drones, crews are relying on a combination of local and federal resources, including helicopters that pull water from the Dismal River to drop on the flames.

“And a lot of the bridges that cross the Dismal River are private ranch bridges. They’re not rated for our large engines, so we’ve had to use helicopters to get firefighters into certain areas,” said Kristie Thompson, a public information officer for the Road 203 Fire.

Officials say the fire has burned more than 35,300 acres and is 36% contained. With warmer temperatures and critical fire weather conditions expected in the coming days, crews are preparing for continued challenges.

“Today we will have a little bit of a test with the weather. It’s going to be heating up to the mid-60s today,” said Thompson.

As conditions evolve, crews say tools like drones are becoming essential in the fight.

“It is life-saving, for sure,” said Wessel.