Drones could battle blazes

DRONES could fight tower block fires in a radical overhaul of the way they are tackled, an expert said.

Engineer Dr Ian Pearson said ground appliances only reached low floors and crews “need better tools”.

Heavy-duty drones would lift hosepipes to high floors, he said. Water from roof tanks could soak the outside in the case of an external fire, like at Grenfell Tower.

He called the absence of internal sprinklers there “beyond comprehension”.