The loss of life and property caused by the Californian wildfires this month has been devastating. However, an awful situation is being made worse by irresponsible drone operators who are putting the lives of firefighters at risk. The situation came to a head last week when a civilian drone hit a firefighting plane, causing it to be grounded.
What happened?
Last Thursday, January 10th, a civilian drone hit a firefighting aircraft over the Palisades fire. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said, “We hit a drone this afternoon — first one. Our Super Scooper hit a small drone.” The Super Scooper is a fixed-wing plane designed to drop water onto a fire from above. Thankfully, the crew were able to land the plane safely after the crash. The drone was destroyed; however, the impact left what Marrone called a fist-sized hole in the firefighting aircraft’s wing. As a result, it was grounded for repairs over the weekend.
If you fly, we can’t
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been reiterating its “If you fly, we can’t” campaign. This is specifically aimed at drone operators flying their devices over wildfire areas. There are also temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) around all of the Southern California wildfires. These TFRs prohibit all aircraft, including manned aircraft and drones, that are not involved in the firefighting efforts. The FAA stated, “It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response operations.”
Condemnation
As yet, the owner of the drone that hit the firefighting plane hasn’t been identified. Unfortunately, others have posted drone footage of the restricted areas online. One photographer shared photographs of a destroyed neighborhood in Pacific Palisades. However, other drone users reacted swiftly to condemn these actions. Gary Chittick, a photographer from Scotland, responded, “Abhorrent to be flouting @faa rules and flying a drone over an active rescue site. Shameful and good to see everyone across social media calling it out. No matter what you delete, the evidence is there.”
What we think
The news images of the wildfires have been heartbreaking. In the face of overwhelming odds, firefighters have been battling the elements to restrict the destruction. It’s therefore appalling to witness the irresponsibility of some drone users. Their reckless actions are literally putting peoples’ lives at risk for content and social media likes. It’s to the great credit of the wider drone community that these few selfish individuals have been wholeheartedly condemned. No shot is worth a person’s life. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their lives or their homes as a result of the wildfires. We also send out support and thanks to the firefighters and emergency services.