Article: Space-Age Aerial Device Could Change the Way Firefighters Work.

By Gilbert Chan, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 1--ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Only hours after the devastating Cedar wildfire erupted in San Diego County, Philip Riggan boarded a specially equipped twin-engine Piper Navajo airplane and headed toward the inferno.

Some 17,000 feet above the flames, the plane sailed over thick plumes of smoke as Riggan sat behind a flat-screen computer monitor observing infrared images of the white-hot flames racing out of control and threatening people and their homes.

"It was incredible. We went right along the (fire) line. It keep going and going," said Riggan, a fire ...

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