Civil Air Support, a UK charity that provides aerial assistance to emergency services and partner organisations, has revealed how its volunteer pilots have recently helped identify potential wildfire incidents before they had the chance to escalate.
Although most of the charity's flights are carried out in response to planned requests, pilots are encouraged to remain alert during every journey for anything that could pose a risk to people, wildlife, infrastructure or the environment.
That vigilance has already paid dividends during the current spell of exceptionally dry weather.
Within the past week, pilots flying separate missions over Hampshire and Cornwall spotted suspicious fires burning in remote rural areas.
From a safe distance, they monitored the situations, photographed the incidents to assist emergency responders and immediately reported what they had seen to Air Traffic Control. The information was then relayed directly to the relevant Fire and Rescue Services, enabling crews to respond quickly.
With vegetation across much of Britain tinder dry, small ignition sources such as discarded cigarettes, disposable barbecues and fireworks can rapidly develop into serious wildfires. Fires that begin in isolated woodland, heathland or moorland may go unnoticed for some time, allowing them to spread before anyone on the ground raises the alarm.
Rapid detection can make a huge difference. The earlier firefighters are alerted, the greater the chance of containing a blaze before it threatens homes, businesses, transport infrastructure, wildlife habitats and agricultural land. Early intervention can also reduce the significant financial and operational resources needed to tackle large-scale fires.
Civil Air Support currently has around 120 active volunteer pilots operating across the UK. Working within strict operating procedures and supported by a central coordination team, the charity ensures that any observations are reported safely, consistently and through the correct official channels.
A spokesperson for Civil Air Support told That's Business: "We're not replacing the emergency services. Our role is simply to be another pair of eyes in the sky. When our pilots happen to spot something unusual during a flight, they know exactly how to report it through the proper channels. If that helps firefighters arrive even a few minutes earlier, it can make a significant difference to the outcome."
The organisation emphasises that its pilots never fly low to investigate incidents or interfere with emergency operations, instead maintaining safe separation while complying fully with Civil Aviation Authority regulations and Air Traffic Control instructions.
Anyone who spots signs of a wildfire should call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service. During periods of prolonged dry weather, the public is also urged to avoid lighting fires or disposable barbecues in the countryside and to dispose of cigarettes safely.
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