Wildfire & Search and Rescue Drones | DJI Matrice 4T | Covert Drones

 

 

 

Wildfire & SAR Operations

See Throughthe Smoke

When fire suppresses visibility to zero, your team can't afford to guess. The DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone gives incident commanders real-time aerial intelligence — hotspot mapping, crew positioning, and escape route identification from the air.

View the Kit Call 612-816-0039
PO & Quote Ready Delivers in 5–7 Business Days Same-Day Quote Net 30 for Agencies
The Problem

Fire Doesn't Wait
for Better Visibility

In a wildfire or structure fire SAR scenario, every minute of delayed situational awareness costs you. Ground crews need eyes from above — and those eyes need to see through smoke, heat, and low-light conditions that optical cameras simply cannot handle.

Incident commanders reviewing aerial thermal drone footage at wildfire command post
01

The IC Needs a Live Picture

Without aerial thermal, your incident commander is working off radio reports and gut instinct. A drone in the air changes that instantly — real-time hotspot data, crew positions, and evolving fire behavior streamed directly to the command post.

The difference between reactive and proactive firefighting is information. That's exactly what the Matrice 4T delivers.

640px
Thermal Res.
43 min
Flight Time
20km
Max Link Range
The Process

Deploy. Locate. Guide.

The Matrice 4T Wildfire SAR Kit is built so your crew can be in the air in under three minutes. Here's what that looks like on the ground.

Fire crew launching DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone at wildfire response scene
STEP 01

Deploy

Setup takes under three minutes. Unfold, power on, take off. The M4T is purpose-built for fast deployment in high-stress conditions — no manual configuration needed in the field.

Drone pilot operating DJI RC Plus 2 controller during wildfire incident response
STEP 02

Locate

The 640×512 thermal sensor with 4× zoom cuts through smoke and darkness. Identify hotspots, locate personnel, and track fire spread in real time — from a safe distance.

Search and rescue team coordinating ground response using aerial thermal drone intelligence
STEP 03

Guide

Stream the live thermal feed to the command post. Direct suppression crews, identify escape routes, and coordinate evacuation in real time. Your air assets become your force multiplier.

Choose Your Kit

Two Platforms.
One Mission.

Both the DJI Matrice 4T and the DJI Matrice 4TD are purpose-built for thermal SAR and wildfire operations. Here's how to pick the right one for your team.

Most Popular
DJI Matrice 4T Wildfire SAR Operations Kit with controller and accessories
DJI Matrice 4T

Wildfire SAROperations Kit

Best for: Most teams deploying thermal in fire, SAR, and public safety

The 4T is the right call for the majority of wildfire and SAR operations. Fast deployment, proven thermal performance, wide availability. If you're not sure which platform you need, this is the one.

  • 640×512 thermal sensor, 4× optical zoom
  • Up to 43 min flight time (fly more kit)
  • RC Plus 2 controller, 7-inch screen
  • Rugged carry case + fast charger included
  • CPS protection available at checkout
View the 4T Kit Get a Quote
Next Gen
DJI Matrice 4TD First Responder Kit complete contents with 6 batteries
DJI Matrice 4TD

Wildfire SARAdvanced Kit

Best for: Teams that need all-weather capability and dual-sensor performance

The 4TD brings upgraded dual-sensor capability and all-weather operation to the same platform. If your team operates in rain, fog, or extreme conditions — or you need the additional sensor performance — this is the step up.

  • Dual thermal + wide camera system
  • IP54 all-weather rated airframe
  • RC Plus 2 controller, 7-inch screen
  • Extended flight time, fly more kit
  • CPS protection available at checkout
View the 4TD Kit Get a Quote
Not sure which platform is right for your operation? Call us at 612-816-0039 and we'll walk you through it. Net 30 available for qualified agencies. Same-day quote on request.
Covert Tactical Vision 21.5 inch field monitor for drone command post operations
Add-On for Large Teams

Command PostVisibility

When your whole team needs to see the feed at once, a controller screen isn't enough. The Covert Tactical Vision 21.5" Field Monitor gives your command post a full-size display — real-time thermal footage visible to your entire IC team, incident commanders, and ground crew leads without crowding around a 7-inch screen.

Built for field use. Sunlight-readable. Sets up in minutes. Works directly with your RC Plus 2 controller. It's the difference between one person watching the drone feed and your whole command structure seeing the same picture at the same time.

  • 21.5" high-brightness sunlight-readable display
  • Direct RC Plus 2 compatibility — no extra hardware
  • Full team visibility at command post
  • Field-ready portable design, sets up in minutes
  • Ideal for multi-agency incident command structure
View the Monitor Ask About Bundles
How Agencies Buy DJI

Straight Talk on
Funding Sources

We get this question every week, so let's be direct about it. DJI platforms can't be purchased with most federal grant funds. Here's what actually works — and we'll tell you upfront if your funding source doesn't.

What Works for DJI

Non-Federal & State-Local Funding

DJI is typically purchased with funds that aren't subject to federal Blue UAS restrictions. These are the paths most agencies use:

  • Department capital equipment budgets
  • Municipal and county general funds
  • State-only public safety programs
  • Asset forfeiture funds (where authorized)
  • Private foundation grants and donations
  • Fire district mill levy or bond funds
What Doesn't Work

Federal Grants Restrict DJI

Under the American Security Drone Act, federal grant programs require UAS purchases from the DOD Blue UAS Cleared List. DJI is not on that list. This applies to:

  • Byrne-JAG (DOJ)
  • COPS Hiring & Technology grants
  • SHSP, UASI, OPSG (FEMA HSGP)
  • AFG and EMPG (FEMA)
  • Any other federal pass-through funding

If your funding is federal, we'll tell you upfront and help you think through alternatives.

Procurement support either way. We provide formal quotes with line-item pricing, W-9, vendor registration info, and PO acceptance for any qualifying purchase — regardless of funding source. Call 612-816-0039 or email covertdrones@gmail.com.

PO & Quote Ready

Formal quotes with line-item pricing, W-9, and vendor registration info — same business day.

Real People

Call us and a drone expert answers. Not a ticket system, not a callback queue.

5–7 Business Days

That's the actual delivery window. No vague estimates, no surprises at the door.

In Business Since 2017

Family owned and operated. We've been selling enterprise drones to public safety teams for nearly a decade.

From the Field

What Teams Are Saying

Public safety, SAR, and emergency management teams across the country have deployed this kit. Here's what they've told us.

We had the drone in the air within 90 seconds of arriving on scene. The thermal feed went straight to our IC and completely changed how we approached suppression. Hotspot identification used to take us 20 minutes. Now it's immediate.

Battalion Chief D. Hargrove
County Fire Department, Southwest Region

Covert Drones was straightforward from the start. They told us exactly what we were getting, answered all our questions about activation status, and had it on our doorstep in a week. The kit was ready to go right out of the box. No surprises.

SAR Team Lead T. Rawlings
Mountain Search & Rescue, Rocky Mountain Region

We evaluated three vendors. Covert was the only one who actually knew the product. They walked us through the specs without a script, helped us configure the right kit for our operation, and followed up after delivery. That's rare.

Emergency Mgmt. Director R. Castillo
Municipal Emergency Management
Coverage Option

Protect Your Investment

CPS Drone Protection covers your Matrice 4T against crashes, water damage, hardware failure, controller damage, and camera damage during commercial Part 107 operations. Add it at checkout for operational coverage from day one.

Learn About CPS Coverage
Common Questions

Good Questions.
Straight Answers.

These units have been activated prior to resale but have zero flight hours and have never been used in the field. They bind to your DJI account like any other unit. The activation is an administrative status, not a condition issue. We're upfront about this because it does affect DJI Enterprise Care eligibility — which we cover with the CPS option.

Because these are activated units, they are not eligible for DJI Enterprise Care or DJI's standard U.S. warranty programs. DJI can still service and repair these units as paid repairs. We offer CPS drone protection as an alternative — it covers crashes, hardware failure, water damage, and camera damage on commercial Part 107 operations.

In most cases, no. Federal grant programs including Byrne-JAG, COPS, SHSP, UASI, AFG, and EMPG are subject to the American Security Drone Act and require UAS purchases to come from the DOD Blue UAS Cleared List. DJI platforms are not on the Blue UAS list.

That said, agencies buy DJI all the time — just not with federal grant money. The most common funding sources are department capital budgets, municipal or county general funds, state-only public safety programs, asset forfeiture funds, and private foundation grants. Call us before you assume your funding source works. We'll tell you upfront if it doesn't, and help you think through alternatives.

Net 30 is available for qualified law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and government entities. Call us at 612-816-0039 or email sales@covertdrones.com to discuss terms. We can also provide a formal quote with W-9, vendor info, and line-item pricing for your procurement file.

For units listed as in stock, delivery is typically 5–7 business days. We don't use vague language like "ships fast" or "ships this week" because it doesn't mean anything. If you need a tighter window, call us and we'll tell you exactly where things stand.

Yes. The Matrice 4T is FCC-certified and legal to purchase, import, and operate in the United States. In December 2025, the FCC added all foreign-produced UAS to its Covered List, which restricts new equipment authorizations for future DJI models — but existing certified platforms like the 4T are not affected by that listing and remain commercially available.

The federal procurement restriction is a separate issue — see the grant funding question above. State, local, and privately funded purchases are not affected. Your procurement office or legal counsel should review applicable restrictions for your specific funding source and jurisdiction. Call us at 612-816-0039 if you want to talk through it.

Ready to Move

Get Your TeamIn the Air.

We're not a ticket system. Call us, tell us what your team is dealing with, and we'll make sure you're getting the right kit. If it's not the right fit, we'll tell you that too.

Call 612-816-0039 View Full Kit

Or email us at covertdrones@gmail.com — we respond same day.

Get a Quote

Ready to Talk.
We'll Get Back
to You Same Day.

Fill out the form and we'll follow up with pricing, availability, and procurement documentation. If you need a formal quote or PO format, mention it in the notes.

Call Us Direct 612-816-0039
Email covertdrones@gmail.com
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