New wildfire sensors installed to protect habitats

A wildlife charity is trialling a new early-warning wildfire detection system to protect natural habitats as blazes become more frequent.

The sensors are installed high in trees in Elstead Group of Commons, home to a variety of at-risk wildlife including nightjars, Dartford warblers, lesser-spotted woodpeckers, cuckoos and stag beetles, Surrey Wildlife Trust said.

The detection system, EmberEye, sends an alert to land managers and emergency responders through a cloud-based dashboard.

Ben Habgood, head of nature-based solutions, said that early detection meant "faster response, less damage to habitats, better protection for wildlife and improved safety for people".

The trust is working with the Ministry of Defence, which owns the common, Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and Surrey Hills National Landscape for the project.

The trust said that most lowland heathland sites were at "high risk from wildfires caused by humans" and had a history of frequent fires in the area.

"As the climate warms, wildfires pose an increasing risk that we must work together to contain them," Habgood said.

The trust said that the trial would last 18 months, and that EmberEye did not record images or sound, track individuals and only activated if a fire was detected.

Last month, two wildfires broke out – one at Hankley Common and another at Blackheath Common.

The trust also urged visitors not to light fires or barbecues and to dispose cigarettes and all litter responsibly.

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