How drones are hunting fires hidden beneath the Cairngorms
Dramatic flames from the huge Cairngorms wildfire in July have disappeared - but hot spots can continue to burn beneath the earth.
At dawn, journalist meets drone operator Pete Short in the Cairngorms National Park for a reconnaissance mission. Three months after a massive wildfire scorched the area, the flames have receded, but the ground continues to emit heat. A thermal drone takes to the skies to locate any remaining hot spots. The wildfire consumed approximately 3,300 hectares, and drone pilots were deployed to aid firefighting efforts.
Pete highlights the challenges of operating in the rugged terrain. The RSPB's Ben Jones emphasizes the importance of pinpointing hot spots to optimize ground teams' efforts. Despite colder, wetter weather, these hot spots pose a significant threat of reigniting larger fires. Conservationist Sarah Henshall notes that the ecological impact of the fire is still uncertain and will unfold over time.
Pete plans to use drones to monitor the landscape's recovery over time, analyzing photographs and videos taken from the same positions at regular intervals. Another potential application of the drones is detecting new fires before they escalate. During the patrol, another hot spot is discovered using the thermal drone, with the team diligently extinguishing the flames.
As the forest begins to show signs of regrowth, hope emerges amidst the charred landscape, but below the surface, the remnants of the fire continue to smolder.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Technology's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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