Monreale launches fire‑watch drone programme

The municipality of Monreale in Sicily has begun an aerial fire‑monitoring service using two FireHound drones supplied by Vector Robotics. The drones, equipped with advanced thermal sensors, can patrol continuously for up to 15 hours and transmit real‑time video and heat data to a central control centre.

Operation of the drones is handled by trained agents of the municipal police, under the oversight of vice‑mayor and civil‑protection assessor Giuseppe Di Verde. The service, active through 30 September, aims to detect forest‑fire hotspots early during the high‑risk June‑September period, improve response times, and deter intentional arson. Monreale hopes the initiative can serve as a model for other Sicilian inland communities facing similar wildfire threats.