The Texas A&M Forest Service reminds drone operators that they are not allowed to fly drones when there is a wildfire nearby.
A helicopter recently delivering water on a fire in Caldwell County nearly collided with an airborne drone, and the state firefighting agency says the drone came within just feet of the firefighting aircraft, according to a report by KBTX-TV.
Firefighters in the state of Washingon (among others) are fed up with people flying their drones above wildfires. A state DNR official says the problem is massive and just getting worse. On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources posted a series of online messages warning drone operators about flying near wildfires.
The DNR said fire vs. drone incidents have occurred “multiple times this year” and have prevented aircrews from flying on fires. “It’s not cute!” it added.
Officials remind the public that drones are a serious hazard and someone could be killed if a drone should collide with a firefighting aircraft. Air ops on fires will be shut down — grounding helicopters and fixed-wing ops — if you or your buddies are flying a drone anywhere near a wildland fire.
If a drone is spotted in the fire area, firefighting aircraft will be grounded and air ops suspended until the drone leaves or is otherwise taken down.
KAGS-TV reported that the recent drone incursion in Texas came within just feet of fire aircraft. “Pilots have no way to detect a drone or know there is one present in the airspace until they see it,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Aviation Manager Jared Karns.
The FAA restricts activity around wildfires (Temporary Flight Restrictions) to ensure that firefighters have a safe space to operate in fire areas and fight fires. Incursions with a drone into a fire TFR can result in charges and very expensive fines in many states.
Unauthorized drones should NEVER be anywhere near fires or firefighting equipment, ESPECIALLY aircraft used while fighting the fire. That is no time to allow the poor little drone operators trying to get a birdseye view. They have absolutely no business putting pilots, aircraft, property & other at imminent high risk because they want to sneak a peak from close up. Sure a drone may be small compared to a plane but it can wreak havoc and cause a crash not to mention pilot distraction from doing the job safely. Drone I.D. laws are a great idea and they should permit shooting the drone down if it is interfering in any way. No $ fine would be necessary then. 🥴
Call it tough love.
Legal ….. Registered Drones should be required to have some sort of Signal that shows or transmits owners Address and Cell Phone Contact # on Cockpit Garmin Screens. Relay info to Police. Hoo Ah.