Illegal drone flights put firefighters at risk, force aircraft to halt operations

SALT LAKE CITY — Fighting fires. It’s a dangerous profession. It comes with inherent risks — including death. But when the public does things like illegally flying drones over active fire sites, the risk to firefighters increases.

It also halts firefighting operations for at least 30 minutes, a precautionary measure to avoid potential collisions.

“It is incredibly frustrating, both as a firefighter and as a taxpayer. The safety of our firefighters, both on the ground and in the air is our primary concern,” said Forest Aviation Specialist Eric Panebaker.

Frustrating and dangerous. One example is when a drone hit the wing of a plane during the Palisades Fire in Southern California.

“That is one of our worst fears,” Panebaker said. “One drone spotted could shut the entire airshow down.”

Downed anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes — with a growing fire like the Buckley Draw Fire in Provo, those precious minutes could mean the difference between saving a home, or even a life.

“We’re paying between $2,500 to $25,000 for flight hours,” Panebaker said.

All of that comes from tax dollars.

“It’s a lot of money that’s wasted,” Panebaker said. “Just because there’s a drone that somebody may not be aware of the ramifications of flying that.”

The unprecedented number of illegal drone intrusions within a few days is the motivation behind fire crews speaking out.

“Six reportable incidents, we’ve had to ground helicopters, divert aircraft four times, six reportable incidents to the FAA and another six incidents where a drone was observed,” Panebaker said.

Thanks to the Aeroscope Drone Detection system, if found, drone operators face stiff penalties.

“Ranging from misdemeanor all the way up to a felony, and fines starting at about $10,000,” said Provo Police Detective Erik Jensen.

He believes the issue is a lack of awareness.

“They’re not aware that they’re not able to fly. They’re not aware of the concerns with the aircraft,” Jensen said.

For more information on proper drone usage, click here.