Wildfires and drones DON'T mix

Check out this short, informative video from Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter through the Idaho Office of Emergency Management about not flying drones near wildfires to avoid interference with the firefighting efforts underway. The public service announcement comes after it was widely reported that drones had interfered with, and hampered, wildfire-fighting efforts this past weekend at White Bird Ridge in north-central Idaho.

"Most members of the public would never dream of standing in front of a fire engine to stop it from getting to a wildfire, but that's essentially what they’re doing to aerial firefighting aircraft when they fly a drone over or near a wildfire," said Jennifer Jones, spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise.

According to FAA, if unauthorized drone operations interfere with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response efforts, the drone operators could face civil penalties that exceed $20,000 and potential criminal prosecution.

Published 08-24-18