Police Arrest Three People Following Drone Incidents in Southern California Wildfires
Police have arrested three people in connection with two drone incidents that have occurred in Southern California as wildfires rage throughout the region. The incidents have resulted in numerous encounters with aerial operations, potentially hampering lifesaving measures.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, two arrests stem from one drone incident. Luna warned the public to stay away from evacuation areas, stating, “If you do not have business in the evacuation areas, do not go there. You are infringing upon the work that our first responders need to attend to.”
A civilian drone struck a Super Scooper plane, leaving a “fist-sized hole” in the wing and grounding the potentially life-saving aircraft for a few days. The plane, which flies at low altitudes to scoop water from the ocean and douse wildfires, has been repaired and is expected to return to the air on Tuesday, pending approval from the FAA.
The FAA has warned against the dangers of drone activity interfering with first responders, citing the potential for mid-air collisions, pilot distractions, and drones falling from the sky and striking firefighters or civilians on the ground. Flying a drone in a wildfire zone could force first responders to ground aircraft, resulting in delays and threatening the safety of firefighters, civilians, and structures.
The FAA has detected 48 privately owned drones in wildfire zones and has warned against the dangers of drone activity interfering with first responders. Interfering with firefighting operations on public land is a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison, and the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 if a drone pilot interferes with wildfire suppression or law enforcement efforts when temporary flight restrictions are in place.
The public is encouraged to report any violations of Federal Aviation Regulations using the FAA’s Hotline web form.