West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has issued a stark warning to drone users: stop flying over emergency incidents. The move follows a recent park blaze where a recreational drone caused confusion, sending firefighters in the wrong direction.
Incident highlights confusion caused by recreational drones
At one recent incident, a WMFS drone pilot directed ground crews to use the service’s drone as a marker to locate a hotspot. However, the crews mistakenly gathered beneath a drone being flown by a recreational user, wasting valuable time and potentially endangering operations.
The service said that home drones hovering over huge and dramatic blazes could hamper professional firefighting operations. This comes as firefighters battle multiple wildfires across the region, including a large blaze at Cannock Chase that killed wildlife and a fire at Birmingham’s Barr Beacon nature reserve.
Drones are a double-edged sword
While unauthorised drones cause problems, WMFS acknowledges that their own drones are a crucial operational asset. They provide incident commanders with a valuable aerial view, helping them make informed decisions, monitor incident development, identify potential dangers, and locate fire hotspots far more quickly than ground searches.
Area Commander Steve Ball, Assistant Director of Operations at WMFS, said: "Our drones are an extremely valuable operational tool. They provide incident commanders with a clearer view of what is happening, support decision-making on the ground, help us identify potential dangers to crews and can locate hotspots far more quickly than firefighters searching a large area on foot."
Recreational drones: a growing problem
But recreational drones flying over incidents can cause serious issues. "They can cause confusion, distract crews and hamper our operations," Ball added. "We understand that people may be interested in what is happening, but we ask drone users to support our work by keeping well away from emergency incidents and never flying above our firefighters or the scene."
WMFS also urges anyone publishing or sharing footage of an incident to ensure it was obtained lawfully and safely, without interfering with emergency services. "Please give our firefighters and specialist teams the space they need to work safely and effectively," Ball said.
Legal and safety guidance for drone users
Anyone flying a drone who becomes aware of an emergency incident nearby should safely and immediately stop flying, unless the emergency services have given them permission to continue. Drone users should familiarise themselves with the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which includes specific guidance about flying near emergency incidents.
This warning comes as WMFS continues to tackle large wildfires, which have become more frequent due to dry conditions. The service is urging the public to support their work by respecting airspace around incidents, ensuring that firefighters can operate safely and effectively.
