Flights Can Force Aerial Firefighters To Stop Flying, Leading To More Damage

California fire officials are again warning hobby drone operators to not fly their aircraft near any wildfire.

The La Jolla Patch reports that, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's statewide fire map, 16 wildfires have already damaged nearly 49,000 acres as a summer heat wave continues, and the fire season following a drought in the state could get worse.

One of the ways firefighters try to get an early handle on wildfires is using aircraft to drop water and fire suppression chemicals on the blaze. But if a drone is operating in the vicinity, they cannot fly. "Very simply put: If you fly, we cannot fly," Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham said. "We have to pull all fire aircraft out of the area until we can find the drone owner to land the drone."

On it website, Cal Fire says that aerial firefighting aircraft, such as airtankers and helicopters, fly at very low altitudes, typically just a few hundred feet above the ground; the same as UAS flown by members of the public, creating the potential for a mid-air collision that could injure or even kill aerial and ground firefighters, as well as residents on the ground below.

Because of this potential for collision, when a UAS is detected flying over or near a wildfire, air operations must be suspended until all drones flying in a fire area are removed. This delay can decrease the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations, allowing wildfires to grow larger, and in some cases like the North Fire, increasing the threat to lives and property.

The same holds true for wildfires in any state in the union.

Cal Fire asks the public to never fly drones near wildfires. Remember: "If You Fly, We Can't!"

(Image provided by Cal Fire)

FMI: www.fire.ca.gov/communications/communications_ifyouflywecant