In the Cairngorms National Park, drone pilots equipped with thermal imaging technology are conducting systematic patrols to locate underground fire hotspots that persist long after the main flames have subsided. A major wildfire swept through approximately 3,300 hectares in July, and despite the absence of visible flames weeks later, heat signatures continue to be detected beneath the forest floor, indicating active combustion in the soil.
Drone pilot Pete Short has been conducting these thermal surveys for nearly three months since the initial fire. Flying at dawn, the thermal cameras detect heat sources invisible to the naked eye, revealing glowing signatures that guide ground teams to precise locations. When excavated, these spots reveal warm soil, heated rocks, and rising smoke, confirming the presence of active fire beneath the surface. Without thermal technology, many of these dangerous hotspots would remain undetected.
The discovery and elimination of these underground fires is critical for land management operations. Ben Jones, senior site manager for the RSPB at Abernethy, emphasizes that with limited personnel and resources, knowing the exact locations of hotspots allows teams to deploy their efforts efficiently. Each of these remaining fire zones poses a potential reignition risk, making their detection and extinguishing essential despite increasingly cold and wet weather conditions.
Beyond immediate fire suppression, the drone technology is being repurposed for long-term conservation monitoring. Drones are programmed to fly identical routes repeatedly over months and years, capturing consistent visual data from the same positions. This systematic documentation will help conservationists track landscape recovery and understand the ecological impacts of the fire. Additionally, officials believe rapid aerial surveillance could play a preventative role in detecting and controlling future wildfires before they spread uncontrollably. Meanwhile, signs of recovery are already visible, with green shoots and fungi emerging from the scorched forest floor.
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