Get Trained Before the Smoke Rises: Lessons From an Early Wildfire Deployment

If you’ve been waiting to start your drone training, now’s the time to take action.

This spring, while the air was still cold and the ground frozen, a team of our instructors who also operate on a Hummingbird Drones wildfire crew, were deployed on the earliest wildfire drone mission to date. In early April, they traveled more than 16 hours north to scan for what’s known as “zombie fires”. These fires are underground hotspots still smoldering beneath the surface of snow and soil since last season.

There were no visible flames like we typically associate with wildfires—this was a proactive, data-driven mission aimed at preventing disaster before it could reignite with the warming weather. It’s exactly the kind of deployment that underscores why drone training and technology matter: to detect what can’t be seen with the naked eye and act before it becomes an emergency.

Why Training Ahead of Time Makes the Difference

The crews on this deployment are talented and skilled drone pilots tasked with scanning over 10,000 hectares of high-priortity wildfire perimeter which was part of a massive burn zone from the previous season. With over 100km of the area being a high priority perimeter, the team used their drone equipped with thermal sensors to search for the zombie fires that quietly survived the winter waiting to erupt when the conditions align. 

This kind of mission requires more than just a drone and a pilot’s certificate. It demands:

• Knowledge of advanced airspace safety

• Comfort flying in complex terrain

• Thermal imaging interpretation

• Real-time coordination with emergency teams

• RPAS regulatory understanding
  

The operators on this deployment were ready because they trained before they were needed. Flysmart’s courses are built for this exact purpose: to ensure you’re not learning under pressure, but instead, stepping confidently into high-stakes situations knowing you have the skills. 

What is a Zombie Fire?

Zombie fires, also known as holdover fires, are hidden threats.They burn beneath the surface in organic materials like moss and duff. Thanks to their low oxygen environment and insulation from snow, they can survive the entire winter going invisible to the naked eye.

Once the snow melts and spring heats up, these fires can flare back to life and spark new flames. Drone pilots trained in thermal detection, pattern search, and wildfire risk zones are now among the most critical eyes in the sky during these early-season windows.

Be Ready Before It’s Urgent

Whether you’re part of a public safety organization, a wildfire response crew, or an individual operator looking to make a difference, the time to train is before the task comes. 

Our instructor team isn't just teaching theory, they’re out in the field applying it. FlySmart courses and materials are developed by crews and team members who have been in the field and know what skills and knowledge it takes in operations

We offer:

• Self-paced RPAS online training - Basic & Advanced 

• Search & Rescue Drone Technician Courses

• Live or in-person training packages

• Flight Reviews & Prep Courses

• Specialized scenario-based training

Don’t Wait for the Next Callout

If you’re building or expanding your drone program, we’re here to help you get the right certifications, the right support, and the right start.

Train with instructors who live the missions, so when your moment comes, you're ready to answer the call.