The NSW government is rolling out drones to support fire and rescue services in 25 regional areas.

The technology will help emergency authorities assess bushfire risks, undertake hazard reduction operations and locate people missing in dense bushland, the government says. It will also provide commanders with aerial images to help them determine the safest places to position fire trucks and crews.

The drones – or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAs) – are connected to FRNSW’s wireless and satellite communication networks, allowing images from the scene of an emergency to be viewed and analysed in real time.

They are also equipped with thermal imaging cameras and laser technology that can detect variable heat temperatures, identify people or animals under threat in a fire zone and measure the size of an area impacted by fire.

Bushfire and Aviation Unit Commander Scott Donohoe says the drones will be stored in FRNSW vehicles ready for use, with plans to train about 200 firefighters in how to pilot them.

“The available training over several tiers includes sessions on night flying, situational awareness, live streaming, rapid mapping, aerial incendiary use and 3D panoramic skills,” he said.

The investment is part of the NSW government’s response to its Bushfire Inquiry recommendations, with $5.2 million earmarked in the state budget to expand the RPAS drone program with new aviation staff, training and equipment.

The drones were used by FRNSW in July to assess flood-damaged infrastructure, identify hazardous materials and locate debris in cane fields across the Northern Rivers region.