Wednesday, 10 September 2025
After a devastating wildfire at Slieve Beagh, the River Blackwater Catchment Trust is trialling surveillance and water-spraying drones to protect vulnerable peatlands. Equipped with thermal imaging and 5K cameras, the drones aim to detect fires early, deter arson, and eventually suppress wildfires in remote, hard-to-reach areas.
Peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, acting as critical carbon sinks and biodiversity hubs. But in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, these vulnerable landscapes are under threat, not only from climate change but also from deliberate human activity. One such peatland, Slieve Beagh, recently suffered major damage from a wildfire deliberately set in May.
Now, the River Blackwater Catchment Trust (RBCT) is turning to drone technology as a potential solution to monitor and protect this vital area from future fires.
Peat fires differ significantly from typical wildfires. Once ignited, peat can burn underground for days or even weeks, smouldering beneath the surface and flaring up unexpectedly. This makes them far harder to extinguish and far more destructive. These fires release massive amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, intensifying climate change more than forest fires of similar size.
The RBCT has begun trialling thermal-imaging surveillance drones to patrol the Slieve Beagh bog, a sprawling 3,000-hectare blanket bog that expands to 9,000 hectares when surrounding forestry and designated lands are included. The bog straddles Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Monaghan, and is home to endangered species and a rich store of carbon.
According to Roy Spence, environmental project officer at RBCT, catching those responsible for starting fires in such remote areas has long been a challenge. However, with the addition of drones capable of 5K photography and thermal detection, surveillance is becoming much more feasible.
“We have CCTV options as well,” said Roy. “But CCTV combined with drones should be a very, very strong deterrent for anyone with this crazy idea that it’s okay to light fires and burn our wild areas.”
During the high-risk fire season, up to three drones will patrol the peatland, scanning for signs of heat or smoke. Once a fire is detected, the drone can transmit real-time, high-resolution images to a coordinator, who can then determine whether it’s a natural heat source, such as an animal or farming activity, or a wildfire.
This early-warning system is designed to accelerate response times and reduce the burden on firefighters, who often have to walk long distances carrying heavy knapsacks of water through rough bog terrain.
“Tackling wildfires in an area like Slieve Beagh is a horrendous job,” Roy noted.
In addition to surveillance, the Trust is planning to trial large agricultural spraying drones capable of carrying up to 100 litres of water. These drones would be able to fly over inaccessible areas and potentially dampen fires before they spread.
While this firefighting drone concept is still in the experimental phase, Roy is optimistic that — one day — the surveillance drones could work in tandem with spraying drones to suppress fires autonomously.
“We believe that someday, not today or tomorrow, but someday, our little surveillance drone can find a fire and talk to this (spraying) drone to say we’ve got a fire here, and that can go and put it out without people ever being involved.”
Aside from their direct use in firefighting, drones may serve a vital deterrent role. Random patrols and high-resolution footage can discourage people from intentionally setting fires, knowing they could be captured on video in the act.
“It could be a great deterrent,” Roy said. “It’s going to be very, very off-putting for anyone to go out there and light a fire when they know that there’s drones going over there at random times.”
The River Blackwater Catchment Trust is hopeful that if the drone programme is successful at Slieve Beagh, it could be replicated in other regions affected by deliberate wildfires.
While the ultimate goal is to prevent all wildfires, Roy acknowledges that in a worst-case scenario, these drones offer a powerful, practical tool.
As wildfires threaten increasingly fragile peatland ecosystems, drone technology could become a game-changer in conservation efforts. At Slieve Beagh, what began as a devastating loss may mark the beginning of a more technologically advanced approach to peatland protection.
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