Flying Through Fire: Drone-Based Emissions Measurements From Structure and Prescribed Fires

ABIGAIL MABEN, Karthick Mohan Kumar, Emilio Molina Rueda, John Flynn, Misa Soto, Clara McMullin, Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, Christopher Robertson, Jack Gottschalk, Jessica Tryner, Tami Bond, John Volckens, Christian L'Orange, Shantanu Jathar, Colorado State University

     Abstract Number: 427
     Working Group: Burning Questions of Aerosol Emissions, Chemistry, and Impacts from Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

Abstract
Prescribed burning and controlled training burns have emerged as key wildfire mitigation and preparedness strategies, aiming to reduce fuel loads, enhance firefighter readiness, and lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires. However, little is known about the emission rates and chemical composition of air pollutants produced during these burns. In this work, we present the development and deployment of a multirotor drone equipped with sensor and sampling devices to measure key atmospheric species. Time-resolved measurements are obtained using low- to lower-cost instruments (CO₂ via photoacoustic spectroscopy, CO and NOₓ via metal oxide sensors, PM2.5 via light scattering, and black carbon (BC) via a micro aethalometer). Particles are also collected on Teflon and quartz filters for offline analysis to quantify mass concentrations of PM2.5, soot (BC and elemental carbon), organic aerosol (OA ), inorganic ions, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and trace metals. Organic vapors are sampled on thermal desorption tubes and analyzed for C₂–C₁₂ compounds, including alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, isoprene, terpenes, phenols, methoxy phenols, and heterocyclic species. We have measured emissions from 4 laboratory pyrolysis burns, four structural burns at a fire training center in Loveland, CO, as well as two prescribed pile burns conducted in Red Feather Lakes, CO. Measured PM2.5 and BC concentrations were compared with reference measurements. Emission factors were consistent with published values. Additional analyses will include evaluation of OA, EC, speciation profiles of VOCs, and comparisons with existing emission profiles from wildfires and laboratory burns. These results will shed light on the role of prescribed burns in shaping air quality and highlight the utility of drone-based platforms for capturing emission data in prescribed fire environments.