THE ROLE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES IN THE OCCURRENCE, PREVENTION AND ELIMINATION OF FIRES

The oil and gas industry remains a cornerstone of national economies, significantly contributing to GDP and the development of various industrial sectors. In Azerbaijan, the sector’s role has grown in recent years, generating substantial revenues from hydrocarbon sales. However, the industry faces evolving risks, particularly from fires and explosions, which have long been a major cause of accidents. In this context, fire risks at oil and gas facilities are classified based on fire and explosion hazards, with most facilities falling into high-risk categories. Technological violations, hot works, and static electricity discharges are among the most common causes of fires, but a growing threat is the unlawful interference of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which can target vertical steel tanks (VSTs) and cause cascading fires. These incidents, often involving shrapnel from UAV-carried munitions, present a unique challenge to the industry, as most facilities lack adequate protection against such threats. The impact of these UAVs can result in varying levels of damage, from minor impairment to complete destruction of tanks and surrounding infrastructure. In response to these emerging threats, technical innovations such as the "steel dome" system and the "Serp-VS5" drone suppression system have been introduced to enhance protection against UAV strikes. Moreover, UAVs have also proven effective in firefighting operations, assisting in monitoring fire hotspots and assessing damage in real-time. Various types of firefighting drones, including high-capacity aerial systems and controlled burn drones, are increasingly being deployed to combat fires in hard-to-reach areas. UAVs equipped with advanced thermal imaging and gas detection systems further enhance situational awareness and safety. Additionally, UAVs play a crucial role in detecting and monitoring oil spills, which pose significant fire hazards. By integrating UAVs into fire safety protocols, oil and gas enterprises can improve their response capabilities and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. The growing adoption of UAV technology in fire safety represents a significant advancement in the sector’s ability to safeguard personnel and infrastructure. Keywords: fire safety, unmanned aerial vehicles, fire prevention, risk assessment, firefighting drones, oil spill detection.