Understand
Drones used to hunt hidden underground fires in the Cairngorms National Park
Overview
Three months after a massive wildfire swept through approximately 3,300 hectares of the Cairngorms National Park, thermal drones are being used to detect hidden underground hot spots. Drone pilot Pete Short and conservation teams work to locate and extinguish these remaining subterranean fires, which retain the potential to reignite larger blazes. Additionally, the drones are being programmed to fly repetitive routes to monitor the landscape's ecological recovery and potentially spot future fires early.
Key points
- A massive wildfire burned across roughly 3,300 hectares of the Cairngorms National Park in July.
- Thermal drones are being used by pilot Pete Short to detect hidden hot spots burning beneath the earth's surface.
- Ground teams use the precise GPS coordinates from drones to dig up warm soil and douse underground fires before they can reignite.
- Despite colder, wetter weather, remaining underground hot spots pose a risk of sparking larger fires if ignored.
- Drones are also being used to fly standardized routes over time, helping conservationists document the landscape's long-term ecological recovery.