Fire prevention and extinguishing requires accurate and timely information obtained from the air. For this purpose, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has recently become increasingly popular, as an alternative to the use of more expensive helicopters and airplanes. This final paper presents the application of unmanned aviation systems through the application, specifics, role and importance of unmanned aerial vehicles in the prevention, extinguishing and monitoring of fires. The paper contains examples of some commercial drones that are most often used in the firefighting system, as well as their specific applications. A concrete example of the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle in the firefighting activities of the Public Fire Department of the City of Karlovac is given and explained. Aircraft are most used in firefighting in providing aerial imagery in real time, which helps in detecting and locating fires, as well as extinguishing and controlling fires. Aircraft with a longer range are more useful for fire prevention, by flying over large forest areas in search of potential fires, while smaller, more agile aircraft with a shorter range are better used in fire control. Generic recreational aircraft can also be used in firefighting, but due to their limited performance, they are not very effective, especially for fires in larger areas.