After we fought the first fire we purchased a Kite Aerial Photography system. Before the fire attacked again I managed to assemble it. It came in a kit and at first sight all the bits and pieces were overwhelming. A nine foot wingspan delta kite lifts a frame containing a small camera, a battery, radio receiver, antenna and three ‘servos’ up several hundred feet. (We haven’t had it long enough to discover the best working altitude).

The frame holding the camera and servos is fairly complex but wonderfully engineered. The radio remote control unit (usually used for model aircraft) activates the servos. One servo tilts the camera from straight out to straight down, another pans 360 degrees and the third activates the shutter.

A system of tiny pulleys, a long line and attachments allow the camera frame to always remain level while the whole thing is attached to and lifted by the kite line. Here are some of the first photos taken, it’s going to be really good for spotting fires and other anomalies

.The kite is up and stable, the camera is about to lift off from the burned field in which the outside stallions live. At either side of the horizon you can see the forest at the north and south edges of the field.

The north and east sides of the stallion field are behind me as I let out more kite line.

Same position, better altitude. Another hundred feet or so and we should be able to see over the trees.

If you look closely you can see that everything under the trees is burned too.