In line with the military theme of my firefighting artillery, flares are the focus here.

Searching for anything in an unincorporated environment (woodland, open field, riverside) at night can be improved with the same flares used to find targets on a battlefield. Each volley would contain multiple flares, rigged to stay airborne for the life of the flares (parachutes; hot-air balloon). Packaged no larger than a shipping tube, it could be sold to the general public at an attractive price.

Flashlights and searchlights are limited in visible range and spread. Night vision or infrared goggles and scopes are expensive and limited in viewable area. An airborne flare draws immediate attention.

(Alternatively, the flares could be made to burn in the IR or UV spectrum to conceal a covert search or perhaps to defeat one.)

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