How drone pilots and fire crews tackled 800-acre Goyt Valley blaze

When a wildfire broke out in the Goyt Valley on 30 April 2025, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service quickly called on the Derby Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) drone unit to assist. Over three days, the fire tore through more than 800 acres of moorland and woodland.

Using thermal imaging, panoramic scans and real-time streaming, Derby MRT supported fire crews, police and partner agencies to coordinate a dynamic, large-scale response and protect nearby homes at risk.

A rapidly escalating incident

Derby MRT’s drone team received the call from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service requesting support at a growing wildfire in the Goyt Valley, north of Buxton – the team’s sixth wildfire deployment of the year. On arrival, it was immediately clear this would be their largest incident to date. Appliances from both Derbyshire and Cheshire lined the scene, and thick smoke was already visible across a vast area of moorland.

The drone team was asked to provide a live overview of the fire front. Using a thermal camera and onboard laser pointer, they marked out the fire’s edges to help incident commanders estimate its speed and direction of travel. Footage was streamed to a large screen inside the team’s vehicle and shared to a secure website for wider access by incident partners.

The smoke was so thick and hundreds of metres high that we relied primarily on the thermal imaging to identify the areas currently alight. By dropping laser pins on the edges of the fire, we were able to provide a rough estimate of the extent of the fire and the direction and speed it was travelling.

Homes at risk and rapid redeployment

Shortly after commencing our second flight, we received a message from one of our fellow team members: “I don’t suppose you’re at the Buxton wildfire? From the looks of it it’s right near my friend’s farm… is it heading that way? He’s got a baby, toddler, wife and elderly parents. I’ve just rang him and he’s on his way home now. But his wife hasn’t rang him back…”. We immediately relayed this to the Fire and Rescue Incident Commander and Police on scene. The emergency response was to prioritise with their evacuation.

Soon after, the first helicopter water bomber arrived. The drone team regrouped and were asked to reposition toward Errwood Reservoir, where there were concerns the fire could spread into dense forest. As the team attempted to reach the new location, the fire overtook the road ahead – prompting another drone launch to assess conditions. Live footage confirmed that trees were already alight, and the fire had entered the woodland.

Images and video were relayed both to the incident command and to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s media team, enabling timely updates to the public. Later that evening, the drone’s laser pointer was used again to identify the worst-hit parts of the forest, helping ground crews direct their efforts. The team remained on site providing aerial monitoring until midnight.

Panoramic scans and multi-agency support

Returning at first light on 1 May, the team launched the drone to assess fire spread. Early thermal scans picked up multiple areas still smouldering or burning. The drone captured 360-degree panoramic images from key locations – sharable within a minute via WhatsApp or messaging apps. This allowed partner organisations, including National Park rangers and landowners, to get a full aerial view without entering hazardous terrain.

At 08:30, the helicopter water carrier resumed operations, collecting water from the reservoir and dropping it onto hotspots or into portable dams set up by ground crews. Making up to 20 trips an hour, the helicopter support proved critical to slowing the spread.

Meanwhile, fire crews using 8×8 Argocats, Unimogs and foot access continued to work in difficult heat and terrain to tackle remaining pockets of fire.

On 2 May, Derby MRT once again launched thermal scans at first light. Based on the drone imagery, the helicopter was requested to return for further water drops as temperatures and winds increased. By the end of the third day, most of the fire had been brought under control and Derby MRT stood down. Fire crews remained on scene for a further two days to monitor hotspots and ensure the fire didn’t reignite.

Aerial support that changes the game

The deployment showcased the increasingly vital role of drone technology in emergency response. By providing thermal and daylight imagery, panoramic overviews and real-time streaming, Derby MRT gave incident commanders the information they needed to direct resources, protect crews and make swift, informed decisions – all from a safe distance.

“The ability to monitor and assess the fire from the air without placing any team member in danger has proved its value again and again,” said the team. “It’s a capability we hope to continue developing and sharing with other partners in the Peak Fire Operations Group.”

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