'Please don't fly your own drones near emergency incidents' - Fire chief speaks out after device is grounded
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) is urging drone users not to fly them near emergency incidents – after a large fire in West Bromwich on Sunday morning saw its own drone team grounded due to others in the area.
The fire, at GB Tyres and Tracking in Great Bridge Street on Sunday morning was battled by over 70 firefighters and 17 engines, with the plume of smoke able to be seen miles away.
But Steve Ball, area commander and head of response for WMFS said the presence of drones flown by the public meant for safety reasons, their own drone had to be brought down.
He said it provides vital aerial information to help commanders manage incidents.
He continued "“Our drones help us build an accurate picture of large or complex incidents. They can play a crucial role in keeping people safe – not only our firefighters and other emergency services, but also the public.”
"We’re simply asking people to stay clear if they see us dealing with an incident. If you want to capture footage, please liaise with the incident commander via our crews on the ground.
“We’ll always try to help where it’s safe and appropriate to do so, and have on many occasions shared our own drone footage from significant incidents to inform our communities.”
A statement on WMFS’s website said their drone team supports incident commanders at a wide range of emergencies. The aerial footage they capture helps monitor hazards, assess risks and improve safety for everyone involved.
The Civil Aviation Authority's advice to the public is they must keep out of the way and not fly in any way that could hamper the emergency services when they’re responding to an emergency incident
They also say the public must follow any temporary restrictions that are put in place and take particular care not to hinder any aerial support to the emergency services. respecting and protect the privacy of anyone involved in the emergency.
