Bob Brown Foundation says the state and federal governments should lead the world in implementing drone technology to fight multiple remote bushfires like those ignited by lightning in Takayna / Tarkine last week.

The fires have since burnt out thousands of hectares of wild country and threatened ancient Huon pine groves as well as incinerating wildlife.

“Emerging drone technology using heat sensors promises to find fires even at night and douse them before they spread. Fires like those in Takayna now might be got at before they get away in the future,” Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

“Tasmania’s wild country is also its economic well-being. We should be at the forefront, worldwide, of implementing the new technologies in coming years.”

“The heating atmosphere means we will face worse bushfires in the years ahead and drone technology will become vital in earliest possible attention to fires, for example on Kunanyi / Mt Wellington.”

“Governments should also end native forest logging which is a major source of greenhouse gasses and makes fires worse once they get going,” Brown said.

Photo: Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service