On 8th September 2025, Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue (BLSAR) joined the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) for Operation Caleo 3...

On 8th September 2025, Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue (BLSAR) joined the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) for Operation Caleo 3, a major multi-agency training exercise simulating a fire in a high-rise building. The event also brought together Thames Valley Police (TVP), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), and several other emergency service partners.

BLSAR’s role in the exercise was to provide aerial support through its Drone Team, tasked with searching for trapped individuals in the building and relaying findings directly to RBFRS Command. The training was conducted at dusk, with light fading as the scenario unfolded, adding an extra layer of realism and challenge.

The fire scenario began with flames starting on the fourth floor and spreading to the fifth. Upon arrival, the BLSAR Drone Liaison was briefed to focus on the upper floors above the fire. The team quickly deployed, using the drone’s onboard spotlight to conduct a systematic search. Within minutes, the Drone Pilot identified multiple trapped individuals on the fifth and seventh floors. Their locations were relayed to RBFRS Command via a live video feed, allowing commanders to cross-reference against building floor plans and direct rescue teams with accuracy.

Further challenges arose when reflective film on several sixth-floor windows obscured visibility. After repeated passes, a faint light was detected at one of the windows, confirming the presence of more trapped individuals. This information was also communicated to RBFRS, who dispatched extraction teams to guide them to safety.

BLSAR’s Drone Team has already proven its operational value in real-world incidents, supporting RBFRS during fires at Broadmoor Hospital and tackling a large-scale grassland blaze in the summer. Exercises such as Operation Caleo 3 not only sharpen inter-agency coordination but also strengthen the relationships between emergency services, ultimately benefitting the communities they serve.

In addition to providing aerial support, BLSAR volunteers took part in the exercise as simulation casualties, adding realism for the rescue teams on the ground. The event once again highlighted the vital role that trained volunteers can play in supporting professional emergency services during complex and high-risk incidents.