PRINEVILLE, Ore. (Mar. 24, 2026) — The Oregon Department of Forestry is strengthening its statewide wildfire and emergency response capabilities with the addition of a new Multi-Mission Aircraft, a move officials say will significantly enhance detection, monitoring and coordination during incidents.
“This is a significant advancement in how the agency detects, monitors, and responds to incidents across Oregon,” said Sarah Prout, ODF’s State Aviation Coordinator.
The $13.23 million investment includes $12 million in legislatively approved bonds from 2023 and $1.23 million from additional funding sources. The aircraft replaces the agency’s long-serving Partenavia P.68 Observer, which is retiring after more than 30 years of service.
The new platform, built on a Twin Otter airframe, represents a major upgrade in capability, officials said.
“This aircraft represents a major step forward for Oregon’s aviation program,” said Neal Laugle, State Aviation Manager for the Oregon Department of Forestry.
The aircraft itself cost $7.8 million and offers improved endurance, range and payload capacity, allowing it to remain airborne longer, cover more ground and transport more personnel and equipment. An additional $5.4 million in advanced sensing technology and mission systems transforms the plane into what officials describe as an aerial intelligence platform.
Equipped with artificial intelligence-enabled wide-area mapping, high-definition thermal imaging, augmented reality mapping software and night operations capability, the aircraft is designed to detect emerging fires earlier and track fire behavior with greater precision.
“It builds on decades of experience while bringing new capabilities that allow us to detect fires earlier, understand conditions in real time, and provide critical intelligence to firefighters and decision-makers on the ground when every minute matters,” Laugle said.
During wildfire detection missions, crews monitor weather forecasts and lightning activity to anticipate potential fire starts. Lightning strike data is uploaded into the aircraft’s mapping systems, allowing crews to scan affected areas using onboard sensors and night vision goggles—often identifying fires before they are visible to the public or reported through traditional means.
“What makes ODF’s Multi-Mission Aircraft unique is the combination of advanced mission systems with night vision capability,” said Laugle. “When operating at night, NVGs allow our crews to detect subtle visual cues—like the flicker of a new fire start—that are often difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye. Paired with our onboard sensors, this significantly improves our ability to find and respond to fires at night.”
Beyond wildfire response, the aircraft expands the state’s ability to respond to other emergencies, including floods, severe storms, search and rescue operations and disaster damage assessments by rapidly collecting and sharing geospatial intelligence.
“This capability will improve coordination across state agencies, local responders, and incident management teams—helping ensure a faster, more unified response during emergencies,” Prout said.
The aircraft will support missions ranging from wildfire detection and reconnaissance to real-time mapping, coordination of air resources, and transport of personnel and equipment. It will also generate data products such as live-streamed video, georeferenced imagery and mapping data that can be quickly shared across agencies.
“ODF is coordinating closely with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon State Fire Marshal, federal partners, and local agencies to ensure the aircraft is fully integrated into Oregon’s emergency response system,” said Sarah Prout.
The aircraft will be based at Prineville Airport in central Oregon, a location officials say allows for rapid response across the state.
“We can easily reach all four corners of the state with relatively short flight times from Prineville,” said Laugle. “Also, lightning storm activity, that the aircraft tracks closely, is typically more frequent in eastern and southern Oregon so it makes operational sense to base it there.”
The aircraft is currently undergoing final integration and testing in California. Once delivered, pilots and aerial observers will complete several weeks of training before it becomes fully operational for the upcoming fire season.
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more complex, officials say investments like the Multi-Mission Aircraft are essential.
“The MMA positions Oregon to better meet evolving challenges—by leveraging advanced technology and decades of operational experience to protect communities, natural resources, and the landscapes that define the state,” Prout said.
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