Charities

Volunteer Pilots Help Spot Wildfires Early During UK Heatwave

Good News Post

Jul 21, 2026 — 2 min read

Image supplied Civil Air Support

By Charities Correspondent

Volunteer pilots have helped firefighters respond more quickly to wildfires after spotting two remote blazes from the air during routine flights.

The incidents, one in Hampshire and another in Cornwall, were identified by pilots from charity Civil Air Support during the past week as hot, dry weather continued to increase the risk of wildfires across the UK.

After spotting the fires from a safe distance, the pilots photographed the scenes and alerted Air Traffic Control, which passed the information to the relevant Fire and Rescue Service.

The early reports enabled firefighters to respond quickly.

Although most Civil Air Support flights are carried out in response to requests from emergency services and partner organisations, volunteer pilots are also trained to report anything they see that could pose a risk to people, wildlife or the environment.

The charity has around 120 volunteer pilots and aircraft operating across the UK, providing extra eyes in the sky while carrying out routine flights.

A Civil Air Support spokesperson said:

"We're not replacing the emergency services. Our role is simply to be another pair of eyes in the sky. When our pilots happen to spot something unusual during a flight, they know exactly how to report it through the proper channels. If that helps firefighters arrive even a few minutes earlier, it can make a significant difference to the outcome."

With vegetation left exceptionally dry by recent hot weather, small ignition sources such as discarded cigarettes or disposable barbecues can quickly develop into serious wildfires, particularly in remote woodland, heathland and moorland.

Civil Air Support said its volunteers never interfere with emergency operations and always observe incidents from a safe distance while following Civil Aviation Authority regulations and Air Traffic Control instructions.

The charity is also urging anyone who spots signs of a wildfire to call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

People are also being reminded to avoid lighting fires or disposable barbecues in the countryside and to dispose of cigarettes responsibly during periods of dry weather.

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