CFA's new drone fleet trialled in Rhyll

Drones have become the CFA's latest eyes in the sky, proving their effectiveness during the 2025-26 fire season, including a fire at Rhyll.

CFA embarked on a Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) drone trial over the past year to boost firefighting intelligence from above.

The success of the trial was proven during the January 2026 fire season on various firegrounds across the state, the drones allowing incident controllers and fireground command personnel to make timely and informed decisions.

Incredible vision was captured during a bushfire at Rhyll on January 22, adjacent to the Koala Conservation Reserve, where firefighters attended at its hot spot.

The RPAS crew were able to inform local firefighters on the ground, who were then able and they were able to start raking and hosing the hotspot, where smoke billowed from the ground.

Incident Controller Damien O'Connor said the holistic view provided enabled identification of several other hot spots outside of the main fire.

"This prevented the fire reigniting in unburnt land and gave us the confidence to leave the Fireground, knowing our suppression techniques were successful," Damien said.

"These hot spots were identified at night, and we were able to guide crews to their location through the use of the drone spotlight as well as by radio communications watching the image on the screen.

"I have no doubt the use of the RPAS program at this incident not only saved the local brigades many hours and further potential outbreaks, it ensured the protection of the Koala Conservation Reserve.

The 12-month pilot program, hosted by the Rowville and Edithvale brigades including volunteer pilots from Melbourne's outer east and southeast has been used for a range of other emergency situations including identifying hazmat situations, rope rescue, urban search and rescue, aerial thermal imaging and impact assessment.

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RPAS pilot Cien Pereira works as an air traffic controller and said she was keen for the CFA to try the new drone trial which happened to align with the work she does.

"Drones provide incredible intelligence and there are long term benefits for where this program can go," Cien said.

"There are incident controllers out there that don't realise this is an option for them, so we're doing demonstrations across the state to try and get the word out.

"RPAS provides more accurate, more up to date information and intelligence for better decision making, so this makes everything safer for both the community and our firefighters."

So far there are 21 trained drone pilots who have been responding to a range of incidents across Victoria, with varying capabilities.