Fire department aerial surveillance in Bamberg: A day in the life of a firefighter from the skies
In the heart of Germany, the Government of Upper Franconia is taking proactive measures to combat the threat of forest fires. As part of their preparations, observation flights are ordered to detect potential fires under challenging conditions.
Recently, a group of air observers gathered at Bamberg Airport for their annual site training. Among them was Rebecca Ammon, who participated in the event. The training included both theoretical and practical sessions.
Theory classes covered radio operations, pilot alphabet, rules of radio communication, communication with the control center, and technical procedures. The practical part, however, offered a more immersive experience. Rebecca, along with other trainees, faced the heat and vibrations of a small aircraft during the training.
For the practical sessions, two large hot air balloons were used to simulate forest fires. Alexander Nuesslein, the pilot, explained that forest fires are usually only visible through rising smoke. However, distinguishing smoke development from vehicles can be challenging, especially in hot and dry conditions when overheated combine harvesters are a common cause of forest fires.
The training was attended by air observers from public services, volunteer pilots, representatives of the fire department, city of Bamberg, Bayreuth, and representatives of the Government of Upper Franconia. The event aimed to prepare these individuals for the challenges they might face during real-life forest fire detection missions.
The importance of early fire detection by air observers was emphasised by Matthias Rocca, district fire chief from the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in his report on the Tennenlohe forest wildfire that occurred in 2025. The main problem during that incident was the precise localization of the fire.
Air observers face several challenges during site training for forest fire detection. Visual limitations due to canopy, clouds, or atmospheric conditions can make it difficult to detect early fires from the air. Navigation and communication complexity, skill variability, and safety concerns are other challenges that training air observers must address.
Despite these challenges, thorough training is essential to ensure prompt, accurate fire detection and effective resource allocation. Emerging technologies, such as AI, satellite imagery, drones, and sensor networks, are helping augment human observers. However, human expertise remains crucial for judgment and tactical decision-making during detection and deployment.
Arnold Schneider, with 40 years of experience as an air observer, highlighted heat as the greatest challenge for air observers and pilots. The training supplements the one-week training of the ten active air observers.
In action, being an air observer feels like being in a car during a traffic jam at 30 degrees Celsius - but with closed windows and no air conditioning. Yet, the challenges faced during training provide an opportunity to prepare for the heat and other challenges that air observers might encounter during hot times.
[1] Fire Detection and Suppression: A Review of Current Practices and Technologies
[2] Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review
[3] Artificial Intelligence in Forest Fire Detection and Management
[4] UAV-Based Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring: A Review
[5] Sensor Networks for Early Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring: A Review
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