Drone support helps fire crews tackle large gorse fire near Minsterley

Firefighters utilised cutting-edge drone technology to battle a significant blaze in the open near Snailbeach yesterday afternoon, successfully containing a fire that spanned approximately 150m x 100m.

The alarm was raised at 15:01 on Monday, March 23, drawing a large-scale response. Fire appliances from Minsterley, Church Stretton, Bishop’s Castle, Tweedale and Shrewsbury fire stations attended the scene, supported by specialised Operations and Safety officers.

Technology Overcomes Terrain

The incident involved a large area of brash and gorse. Due to the rugged nature of the landscape, ground crews initially found access to the seat of the fire to be challenging. To overcome these obstacles, a drone was deployed from the Tweedale station to provide an "eye in the sky."

The drone proved to be a game-changer for the operation as aerial thermal imaging allowed crews to pinpoint hidden hotspots and active fire fronts that were invisible from the ground.

A live video feed was streamed directly to incident commanders on-site and at remote headquarters, ensuring everyone had the same situational awareness. By identifying exactly where the heat remained, firefighters could direct their efforts more efficiently, saving time and water.

A Coordinated Effort

On the ground, crews utilised beaters and fogging units to dampen the flames and create a perimeter around the fire. Despite the size of the affected area—roughly one and a half hectares—the coordinated effort between the four stations meant the fire was contained quickly.

"This was a strong team effort and a great example of how we are integrating modern technology to support our frontline operations," a spokesperson for the service noted.

Once the drone confirmed that all internal hotspots were fully extinguished and there was no further risk of reignition, the 8-appliance team was stood down.