Keep drones away from wildfires

BOISE - The National Interagency Fire Center says folks flying unauthorized drones near wildfires are getting in firefighters’ way, and they’re asking the drone operators to cut it out.

Unauthorized drones “could cause serious injury or death to firefighters on the ground,” NIFC warned today in a news release. “They could also have midair collisions with airtankers, helicopters, and other aircraft engaged in wildfire suppression missions.”

There have been at least three instances this year of unauthorized drone flights near a wildfire zone in violation of temporary flight restrictions, which typically are imposed around wildfires and require permission from fire managers to enter the airspace. Some apparently were taking video or collecting data on the fires. More here. Betsy Russell, SR

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