Our drone team attended a joint training session today in Swinley Forest alongside all three Thames Valley Fire services (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire). The goal was to demonstrate how aerial drone surveillance provides a bird’s-eye view of a simulated wildfire as it moves through dense woodland.

We began with a briefing on our operational capabilities and limitations under CAA safety guidelines. We highlighted that our flights are restricted to an altitude of 120m and must remain within a visual line of sight, typically 400–500m from the pilot. A key focus was our thermal and optical camera technology; the thermal sensors allow for nighttime operations, person-and-animal recovery, and the detection of "hot spots" within the forest.

During the exercise, the Officer in Charge (OIC) presented the fire crews with a large-scale wildfire scenario. After accounting for wind speed, direction, humidity, and temperature, the crews conducted a risk assessment on the fire's potential spread. Our pilot was then briefed on specific areas of concern and tasked with a southeast flight route.

By providing a live video feed to the teams (and potentially Thames Valley Fire Control), we enabled the fire crews to assess tree types and the "head" of the fire in real-time. Having assisted on a major building fire and a wildfire last year, we are confident that our "eyes in the sky" will be a vital asset this summer, particularly if we face continued low rainfall and high temperatures.

It was an excellent day of training that allowed us to refine our support procedures while showcasing our capabilities to the fire service.