Aerial, Communications & Intelligence
Good decisions on an incident depend on good information, and in an emergency that information is often incomplete or late. SCWR’s aerial, communications, and intelligence program helps field crews and incident command see what’s happening, stay connected, and get accurate updates to the public.

Drone & Thermal Operations
SCWR flies drones over fires, flood zones, search areas, and hazardous terrain to get eyes on places ground crews can’t safely reach. Thermal imaging picks up hidden fire and deep-seated hot spots during mop-up, and helps searchers spot people in brush or after dark. Commanders get an accurate look at conditions before committing crews.

When smoke hides the fire, thermal still shows where the heat is. All flights are coordinated with incident air operations and follow FAA rules, including temporary flight restrictions.

Communications
Cell networks often overload or go down right when an incident needs them. SCWR deploys field radios, mesh network nodes, data relays, and satellite communications to keep crews connected across rough terrain and large incident areas.

AVL & Resource Tracking
SCWR equips its field units with automatic vehicle location, giving command staff and our dispatch center a live view of where resources are, where they’re headed, and where coverage is thin.

Live Incident Information
SCWR combines field observations, aerial imagery, unit locations, and radio traffic into one operating picture for our crews and partner agencies. Through our LAIT911 platform, we also push verified incident updates, aircraft tracking, and emergency notifications to the public as events unfold.

What This Means in the Field
When SCWR deploys to an incident, agencies get aerial coverage, backup communications, resource tracking, and a live information feed, all working within their existing command structure.