An unmanned aerial vehicle built using Spanish technology, which can fight forest fires at night, was presented at the international conference ‘Aerial Fire Fighting 2014’ in Sacramento, California.

The Nitrofirex project is a Spanish initiative which uses technology from the defense industry in order to fight forest fires at night. The equipment can also be used in case of an atomic, chemical or biological emergency. It can play a role in meteorological phenomenon (stimulating rainfall, preventing hail and dispersing fog), combat pests and seed inaccessible areas. It can even be used for nocturnal aerial fumigation of narcotic crops in the fight against drug abuse.

The Spanish company indicates that its priority is fighting forest fires given that these catastrophes can result in the loss of human life, in addition to causing environmental and property damage. The use of these drones would complement other aerial tactics in the nocturnal fight against fires.

Attendees at this international conference about aerial firefighting held in Sacramento included firefighting specialists, politicians and military personnel, all of whom are involved in this sector and searching for new advances that can be employed.