BC Wildfire Service expands night-vision helicopter fleet heading into fire season

The BC Wildfire Service is entering the fire season with expanded night-flying capabilities: five night-vision-equipped helicopters and 12 specialized flight officers across the province's six regional fire centres.

The night-vision program, which began as a trial in 2019, has grown significantly. In 2024, pilots and flight officers flew 45 missions; in 2025 that number jumped to 260. The technology allows specially certified crews to detect, monitor, and attack wildfires in darkness using night-vision systems paired with larger water-dropping helicopters.

J.J. Lum, a provincial aviation specialist and night-vision flight officer with the BC Wildfire Service, said the program is most valuable when fires are small and lives or critical infrastructure are at risk. "We're looking to go after those fires that have life, property, critical infrastructure at risk," Lum said. "On those dynamic, evolving instances where values are at risk, it can be a game-changing technology."

The system pairs smaller night-vision observation helicopters staffed by experienced wildfire flight officers with larger tanker helicopters. Flight officers guide tanker pilots through darkness, smoke, and mountainous terrain. Lum noted that night-vision helicopters serve a different purpose than drones, which are most effective in the later stages of a fire when mapping residual heat on a largely controlled burn. The service also uses drones for thermal scanning but relies on helicopters for the early, fast-moving stages where experienced judgment and real-time direction are critical.