Don't Fly Drones Near Wildfires: Cal Fire Warns Of Dangers

The first fire season since the end of California’s historic five-year drought is off to a raging start, with blazes burning throughout much of the state this weekend.

As of early Sunday, firefighters are battling 16 active wildfires that have scorched nearly 49,000 acres amid a summer heat wave, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported on its statewide fire map.

With all signs pointing to a difficult post-drought fire season ahead, Cal Fire officials are reminding hobby drone operators to steer clear of wildfires. Drones pose a safety hazard to first responders as well as the public as they can slow, or even stop, firefighting operations.

"Very simply put: If you fly, we cannot fly," Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham said.

"One of the most effective tools we have in the early stages of a fire is the use of aircraft. And when people fly drones, I do not think they understand the impact this has on the fire agencies," Mecham added. "We have to pull all fire aircraft out of the area until we can find the drone owner to land the drone."

It is illegal to impede firefighting by flying a drone at the scene of any fire. It is also a crime to interfere with or resist the orders of firefighters or emergency rescue personnel fighting a fire.

Still, fire officials said drones often get in the way of their ability to fight wildfires.

In June, authorities issued an advisory instructing drone operators to cease all activity when a brush fire blackened 50 acres along the Camp Pendleton-Oceanside border. According to the advisory, drone use hindered aerial support for the fire.

More recently, Cal Fire officials last week said drones delayed firefighting efforts during the Eagle Fire near Lake Mathews in Riverside County. Aerial firefighting operations were suspended for 10 minutes when a drone was spotted over the fire, which sparked on the Fourth of July and burned 205 acres before it was fully contained the following day.

Firefighting aircraft such as air tankers and helicopters often fly at low altitudes in the same airspace that hobby drone operators might use, putting pilots at risk for a midair collision.

When firefighting aircraft and drones share the same airspace, Cal Fire Capt. Issac Sanchez said there is a risk the drone could crash into the front windshield or hit a rotor blade, causing a catastrophe for an aircraft and for people on the ground. In the end, fire agencies are not going to take that risk with their pilots and firefighters, he said.

“It’s taking a very valuable tool away from the firefight and allowing the fire to grow,” Sanchez said.

To report a drone flying near a wildfire or other emergency, call 911 or 1-844-DRONE11 (1-844-376-6311).

Also read:

California Wildfires: 19 Fires Scorch 10,000 Acres

PHOTO: A Cal Fire air tanker drops retardant on a fire in San Diego County. / Credit: Jeff Pack