Drone Safety Near Fire Zones

Direct link to August 2025 video from the National Interagency Fire Center 

There are lot of good and safe uses for drones, and the FAA has regulations for flying drones including when drone owners must register their drones, for more information see this FAA website on unmanned aircraft systems (aka drones). In addition the Forest Service under the USDA has a nice webpage on the safe recreational use of drones that may be found here,  one of their bullet points focuses on operations near wildfires: "Never fly your UAS over or in close proximity to any fire operation (wildfire or prescribed).  UAS flights over fire operations disrupt aerial firefighting operations and create hazardous situations." I have nothing against drones, I have seen good drone footage and am aware that agencies and the media and individuals safely operate drones and follow FAA regulations in their drone operationms

The FAA has a pdf file that they call "Drones & Wildfires Digital Toolkit", they talk about flight restrictions that are often in place over wildfires, penalties for illegally flying drones near wildfires and how to report illegal drone activity near a wildfire. They also refer to how first responders can get approval to fly drones near a wildfire. They include a paragraph on why it is dangerous to fly drones near wildfires:

The US Forest Service states: 

Firefighting aircraft fly at very low altitudes, typically just a couple of hundred feet above the ground, the same altitude as drones flown by members of the public and others. This creates the potential for a mid-air collision or pilot distraction that could result in a serious or fatal accident. In addition, an unauthorized UAS that loses its communication link could fall from the sky, causing serious injuries or deaths of firefighters or members of the public on the ground. Unauthorized UAS flights could lead fire managers to suspend aerial wildfire suppression operations – such as airtankers dropping fire retardant and helicopters dropping water – until the UAS has left the airspace and they are confident it won’t return.

Please fly your drone safely and legally and please stay away from the airspace over wildfires.

No Unauthorized Drones in Wildfire Zones

 

Direct link to post from the US Forest Service on Facebook

Every so often I am reminded about the danger poised by unauthorized drones (aka unmanned aircraft systems) flying near or in wildfire zones. Such was the case when I saw an April 25th post on Facebook from the NJ Forest Fire Service that I embedded below. Tankers and Helicopters fly at an altitude where many drones are flown and often the only way a pilot knows that a drone is nearby is to see the drone. This is hard to do at the low altitude they fly at, often in smokey or hazy conditions. Accidents were a drone strikes an airplane can happen poising a risk to the pilot and possibly to ground crews. In addition, I understand that the FAA may seek action against a drone pilot flying their drone in or near a wildfire zone. So, please, to not fly your drones in or near a fire zone. 

I want to point out that many firefighting agencies may have access to a drone that they can legally fly in or near a wildfire zone. I am not talking about these drones, which I consider authorized drones. I am referring to unauthorized drones. 

Direct link to April 25th 8:01 AM post on Facebook by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

No drones in fire zones

Direct link to video from KCAL News

While I understand the popularity of drones and they have many valid uses, flying drones (aka unmanned aircraft systems) over fire zones is not one of them. In most areas in the United States flying drones over fire zones is illegal. Flying drones over a fire zone poses hazards to any aircraft working a fire, the possibility of a drone striking an aircraft is a real threat. In some cases, as discussed in the video I shared above, aircraft operations are shut down over the Line Fire in California because of drone activity and while air operations were shut down the fire came close to threatening other areas.

Drone Safety Wiildfires

When drones, aka unmanned aircraft systems fly over fires aerial wildland firefighters can not fly. Please don't fly your drones over or near wildfire zones.

 

Firefighting Helicopter near miss with a drone in Texas

Direct link to video from KBTX News on YouTube

This story from KBTX News illustrates the dangers in flying drones in fire zones. Last Friday a helicopter was flying a small fire in Caldwell County Texas when a drone came within several feet of colliding with the helicopter. The helicopter pilot had no way of knowing that the drone was near by. Please, no drones in fire zones. Thanks to Mike Archer from Wildfire News of the Day for pointing me to this article in his August 23 Wildfire News of the Day e-mail (go here for more information and to subscribe). 

Updated on August 25th: I only just saw a very good article by Kelly Anderson of Fire Aviation written on August 23rd titled 'PLEASE ground your drone, PLEASE'. He writes about the near miss of a drone and helicopter in Caldwell County Texas and about the importance of grounding drones over a wildfire.

Flying a drone in a wildfire zone means firefighting aircraft are grounded

It has been awhile since I have written about the dangers of drones over wildfire zones. So, I am here to remind everyone that if you have a drone, please do not fly it over a wildfires of any size. If you fly your drone, all firefighting aircraft are grounded and it may be illegal. to do so. I want to thank my friend at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 for the inspiration to write about the danger of drones over wildfire zones. 

From the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

From the Forest Service - Interagency Fire Center

Direct link to video from the Forest Service - Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

some uses of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for fighting wildfires: mapping and fighting wildfires with fire

I wanted to find some information for you on how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones are being used by wildland firefighters to help them fight wildfires. In going through some of my files and bookmarks, two things jumped out at me. One was using UAS for mapping wildfires and the other involved dropping small round ping pong balls to fight fire with fire. Fortunately I found one good video in my bookmarks which lead me to two more videos I will share with you. I will let the videos speak for themselves. 

This video, from September 2020, is from KCAU in Sioux City Iowa reporting on drones in Colorado dropping special ping pong balls with chemicals that the video refers to as "dragon eggs" to fight wildfires with fire. 

Direct link to video from KCAU on Youtube

The second video is a report from ABC 15 in Arizona (August 2019) reporting on how wildland firefighters in Arizona used drones to map wildfires as well as dropping special "ping pong balls" to fight wildfires with fire.

Direct link to video from ABC15 in Arizona on Youtube

The third and final video is a September 2018 report from CNET on how drones were being used that summer in California to fight wildfires. This video is just under four minutes. At about 2:51 you will hear a reference to the US Government contracted with four contractors to fly fixed wing drones to fight wildfires on federal lands; I have no further information on this so I can not comment.

Direct link to video from CNET on Youtube

I am going to keep on with reading and otherwise learning more about how UAS are being used to assist wildland firefighters in fighting wildfires or in post-fire recovery and rehabilitation. I will share with you what I learn at the appropriate time.

reflections on unmanned aircraft systems (drones)

I have done some posts about my concerns about drone (unmanned aircraft system or UAS) incursions over wildfires, see for example this November 4, 2019 post and this April 17, 2020 post. Simply, because of the risk that drones can pose if they collide with a tanker or helicopter and airplanes, air operations over a wildfire will be shut down if there is a drone incursion. Drone incursions near airports are also a concern. Ok, I want drones to be operated safely and legally in compliance with FAA and other regulations. Having stated that, I am here to say that I have nothing against drones. While I am not an expert on unmanned aircraft system and have only seen a couple of drone operations from a distance, I know enough to know that in the hands of a trained drone pilot drones can do a lot of good.

Edited on December 23rd to add: the concern that I expressed in the above paragraph applies to situations when members of the general public fly unauthorized drones or UAS over wildfires. The same concern applies to when members of the general public fly unauthorized drones or UAS near airports. 

I have seen drone footage over areas burned in wildfires offering a folk like me a good view of the devastation of a wildfire with the cost of a helicopter or airplane surveillance flight. I believe but am not certain that some National Weather Service offices or their partners have used drone footage in storm damage reports. Then there are drone uses for land surveying.

I have also read of drone uses in connection with wildland firefighting.I have various accounts in online media sites about how drones can assist wildland firefighters, I will take a look at my files and bookmarks for these articles and hope to make another post soon. In the meantime, I do know that Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation has written extensively about unmanned aircraft systems. For example, in September 2020 he wrote about a quad-rotor UAS operated by Bridger Aerospace last summer and fall, mapping fires among other uses. Just this month Bill wrote two articles, on December 6th Bill wrote about a company called DroneSeeding that is licensed by the FAA to fly UAS in post-fire seeding operations. Just last week (December 16th) he wrote about work that Parallel Flight Technology is doing on heavy lift UAS capable of carrying 100 pounds for up to two hours. This UAS technology could be a big boon to wildland firefighters by transporting some equipment to the back country in addition to post fire animal rescue.

As I said, I have seen other reports of how unmanned aircraft systems may help wildland firefighters as well as aid in post-fire rehabilitation. Over the coming months, I will try to pay more attention to such articles that I come across and report back here as appropriate.

 

From the NJ Forest Fire Service: no drones in fire zones

obtained on April 17th from a NJ Forest Fire Service April 17 Facebook post

As we are near the peak of the wildfire season here in New Jersey (see this April 16th press release from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection) I want to urge all operators from the general public of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones not to fly your UAS or drone around a wildfire of any size. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has this to say in an April 17th Facebook Post:

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service would like to remind you, please do not fly your 

UAS or Drone near or around a wildfire, no matter how large or small.
Your actions may have devastating effects to firefighting aircraft and personnel on the fire. 

In addition, we would like to remind you that drones are not permitted to be flown from any lands managed by the New Jersey State Park Service.

The full drone policy on lands managed by the New Jersey State Park Service may be found here.  Note that exceptions are made for search and rescue, firefighting, law enforcement and other governmental first response who request permission from the State. Emergency uses of drones and UAS (e.g. firefighting) are immediately approved).

If you fly drones over fires tankers and helos can not fly

There was an unauthorized UAS (unmanned aircraft system) aka "drone" over the Maria Fire in Ventura County, California last week. Air tankers and helicopters and other aerial operations over the fire were grounded until the UAS cleared the area, see these articles  from Mashable and NPR for more information. As I write this the Maria Fire is at 80 percent containment having burned 9.412 acres.

The US Forest Service has a webpage with information about why drones over fires are dangerous.

The FAA calls drones and wildfires a "toxic mix": "It's a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with fire-fighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, Congress has authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of up to $20,000 "against a drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergence response operations. The FAA treats these violations seriously and will immediately consider swift enforcement action."


direct link to video from US Forest Service National Interagency Fire Center


direct link to video from CAL FIRE

Please don't fly your drones near wildfires

I have nothing against unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones. I really don't. There are many good uses for drones including but not limited to land surveying, storm surveys, and news outlets. I only ask that you do not fly your drones over wildfires, and please do not fly your drones in or near airspace over airports. A drone incursion into airspace over a wildfire means that air tankers, helicopters, lead planes, etc. can not fly. Drone incursions have shut down air operations over wildfires. This means that wildland firefighters on the ground are not getting needed air support. I posted the image from the US Forest Service and the video from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) on April 13, 2016, I am reposting them here, please refer that post for additional resources.

Direct link to video from NIFC

Correction: possible drone sighting in Newark-Liberty Airspace

I wrote on January 25, 2019 about pilot reports of a drone incursion over Teterboro Airport, about 20 miles north of Newark-Liberty International Airport, and on the approach corridor to Newark-Liberty. I must make a correction. That is, according to a January 23rd Washington Post article the FAA has not been able to independently confirm these sightings. Further drone industry experts are claiming that what was reported as drone sightings could have been bags, balloons, or space debris. See this Washington Post article for more information. I am, obviously, not in a position to make a comment one way or the other about the veracity of this apparent drone sighting.

Nonetheless, I continue to advocate for the safety of the airspace around our airports and implore drone (aka unmanned aircraft systems) to stay out of the airspace around airports. Further, and to the point of this blog, please do not fly your drone over wildfires, tankers and helicopters can not fly fires while drones are in the sky.

Drone incursion in Newark-Liberty Airspace

I have nothing against drones, I really don't. Drones are being used for a lot of good: storm surveys by the National Weather Service, agricultural aviation, scientific research and recreational uses such as photography outside of restricted airspace. Having said that, this is not the place to go if you want to learn about such uses. My concern here is and always be the safety of aviation operations both over wildfires and in and around our airports. I implore all who are use drones, aka unmanned aircraft systems that as applicable you register your drones with the FAA, stay out of airspace in and around airports, obey any applicable TFRs (temporary flight restrictions) and to the point of my blog, stay away from wildfires and structure fires.

Flight operations at Newark-Liberty International Airport were halted for a couple of hours on Tuesday, January 22nd when one or two drones were reported by the pilots of two planes near Teterboro Airport at 3,500 feet. Teterboro Airport is located under Newark's airspace about 20 miles north of the Newark-Liberty International Airport. See this report from CBS2 in New York (with video) and this NJ.com article.

A mid-air collision between a drone and an aircraft has the potential for fatal consequences. So far we have been lucky, but I fear the time will come when I drone will bring down an aircraft causing injuries or death to the occupants. In 2017 a drone collided with an Army Black Hawk Helicopter over Staten Island that later landed safely in New Jersey, see this article from NJ.com for more information. See the video report in this Business Insider report about what a drone collision with an aircraft wing could do.

January 26, 2019: I have read some reports on the internet speculating that the the alleged drone sightings by pilots on January 22nd may not have been drones. I posted a follow-up on January 28th, saying that the FAA has so far been unable to verify that a drone was sighted on January 22nd.

Drone incursions at Gatewick Airport in London

I have written some articles about unmanned aircraft systems (aka drones) and the dangers they pose to aerial operations, including but not limited to aerial wildland firefighting. I continue to be aware of the problems that drone incursions may cause to aerial operations. Air tankers and helicopters are grounded from aerial operations over wildfires when drones are spotted. Drone operations near airports can pose a risk to airport operations.

When reading my daily newspapers, I noted that a drone incursion had shut down all flights into and out of Gatewick Airport in London from Wednesday night (December 19th) into early Friday morning (December 21st). As a result of the drone incursion(s) Gatewick was closed for about 32 hours during one of the busiest travel times of the year leading to chaos at the airport. The airport reopened to flights early in the morning of December 21st only to be have all flights suspended  late in the afternoon for an hour or so after another suspected drone incursion. See this December 21st article from the New York Times for more information.

I am embedding a video from BBC about the dangers drones pose to aviation and what the British are trying to do. Be advised that in the United States, drones have to be registered with the FAA, go to this FAA site to read about drone safety tips and drone operations. For information about drone registration with the F.A.A. go here.



Direct link to video

No drones in fire zones

It has been too long since I last posted about the dangers of flying drones, aka unmanned aircraft systems, in fire zones. See for example my post of April 13, 2016. I don't know about you, but I have continued to hear in various media accounts over the last two years of drone incursions into fire zones. Please, if you have a drone, keep your drone out of fire zones. You should keep your drone out of fire zones even if there are no flight restrictions over the fire zone. If a drone is flying in the fire zone tankers and helicopters are grounded for safety reasons. A collision with a drone can bring down an aircraft with fatal consequences. When these aerial resources are grounded then these aerial resources are unavailable to help ground based wildland firefighters. Fines and criminal charges are possible for drone operators over a wildfire.

Here is a video from ABC News 10 in San Diego, California about a drone grounding aerial resources when a drone was spotted over the wildfire.


Direct link to Youtube video from ABC News 10 in San Diego

A little more about why you can't fly UAS (aka drones) near wildfires

As we are already in or approaching wildfire season in many parts of the United States and Canada, I want to continue where I left on April 8 when I asked folk in New Jersey not to fly unmanned aircraft systems (aka drones) over or near wildfires.

Here is a nice, short video from the National Interagency Fire Center:


Direct link to video from NIFC

More Information:
NIFC uas/drone page (with links)
USFS on unmanned aircraft systems (drones)
CAL FIRE - If you fly we can't

NJFFS: if you fly drones near a wildfire they can't fly fires

The spring fire season is upon us here in New Jersey. And with the spring fire season our SEATs are on contract in the central and southern portions of New Jersey, and a helo and bucket is on call in northern NJ. And state owned helicopters with buckets and other observation aircraft are on call all year to help.

Please, if you have a drone do not fly your drone near a wildfire, if you are flying your drone near a wildfire SEATs and helos with buckets and observation aircraft are grounded. So, please do not fly your drone near a wildfire, or near any airport for that matter.

The New Jersey State Forest Service (under the Department of Environmental Protection) issued this press release on April 6th warning all drone pilots of the danger of flying drones near wildfires. To quote some of this press release:

“While drone owners may not realize the potential danger, the presence of these types of equipment during forest fires hampers our overall ability to protect life and property in our wooded areas,” said State Fire Warden Bill Edwards. “A wide variety of aircraft, such as water-dropping helicopters, tanker aircraft and spotter aircraft, often operate above our actions on the ground. Use of drones in areas with aviation traffic is not permissible.  

In short, if you fly a drone near a wildfire, we can’t fly and put out fires.” “Every owner of these devices must follow the laws and policies regarding use of drones and help us fight wildfires by keeping clear of these areas while we combat the fire from above and on the ground,” Edwards added. “Anyone who sees a drone over the area of a wildfire should call our emergency number at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337), or call your local police or fire department.”

Here two media articles referring to the press release from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service:

• NJ 101.5
• Lehigh Valley Live
• New Jersey Herald (helo on wildfire near Newton NJ and NJFFS press release on drones)

UAS (drone) danger near airports as well as wildfires (and more)

Embed code to video referenced below is no longer available, updated on August 1, 2018. Here is the  direct link to a good video on CBSNews (August 2, Face the Nation) on the dangers of drones

I have written a few times recently about the danger the danger caused by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drone incursions over wildfires, see for example my article of July 20th

I don’t know about your area, but I know that airline crews have reported seeing UAS on approach to Newark-Liberty International Airport (NJ), and crews have spotted UAS near JFK airport (Queens). I was inspired to write this article because of what I thought is a great editorial ("Crackdowns needed on drones airports - editorial") written by the Star Ledger Editorial board On August 10, 2015. I saw the editorial in the August 10th edition of The Star Ledger that arrives in my driveway each morning. I'd like to thank them for making me aware of the CBS News interview with Captain Sullenburger that I embedded above.

I hope that you take a few moments to read this editorial. While the editorial board was speaking about UAS (drone) incursions at NY-NJ airports, I think that they are speaking to drone incursions at other airports, including perhaps yours. The Star Ledger Editorial Board urge that lawmakers and the FAA take action:

We're not sure anyone's listening, but the reckless behavior of a few drone operators should have made lawmakers and the FAA shake a leg by now.

The Star Ledger Editorial Board end their editorial by saying that

But until the guys with their tech toys are brought under control, we can expect more close calls and near misses. Until Washington acts, the technology is outpacing the rules that should govern its use.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, Craig Whitlock of the Washington Post wrote an article on the August 10th Washington Post called Rogue drones a browning nuisance across the U.S. He reports on problems caused by several rogue drone (UAS) operators, including but not limited to drone (UAS) incursions over wildfires in California and drones flying “dangerously close to airports.” This article is worth reading, it isn’t long and includes a short video on rogue drone (UAS) operations. Whitlock provides a little background on the lack of UAS (drone) regulations for recreational users:

In general, drone misadventures are happening in a regulatory vacuum. The FAA has banned most commercial drone flights until it can finalize new safety rules — a step that will take at least another year.

But people who fly drones for fun aren’t regulated. Under a law passed in 2012 that was designed in part to protect model-airplane enthusiasts, the FAA cannot impose new restrictions on recreational drone owners. As a result, they are not required to obtain licenses, register their aircraft or undergo training. . . . 

To protect regular air traffic, the FAA has issued guidelines requiring that consumer drones stay at least five miles away from airports and below an altitude of 400 feet. 

Those standards are widely flouted, however; in the past month alone, airline pilots have reported close calls with drones near airports in New York, Charlotte, Minneapolis and Phoenix.

Please, if you have a hobby UAS (drone), stay away from wildfires, stay away from airports, and fly under 400 ft AGL. Fly your UAS safely, you may read more the FAA standards for unmanned aircraft systems here.

good resource on UAS -- "No drones in firezones"

Thanks to some friends who pointed me to the following video earlier in July of 2015. The video was uploaded to youtube on July 10,2015. It is possible that I saw excerpts from this video earlier, but only learned about this almost 9 minute video a couple of days ago.


Direct link to video on youtube

August 1, 2018: updated to delete reference to dead links.

More on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) incursions near wildfires

downloaded from http://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/fire/unmanned-aircraft-systems on June 24, 2015

I first wrote about the hazards that unmanned aircraft systems including hobby drones when flown near or over wildfires on June 24th. In the time since then drones have been sighted over some other wildfires out west, including the North Fire (Wildfire Today, June 19th)  that shut down the I-15 northeast of Los Angeles on Friday, June 17th. I am sure that most of you know that this fire burned several vehicles on the I-15. There was also, according to the North Fire Inciweb page, first reported on July 18th), a drone over the fire that shut down air operations for 25 minutes

I noted this at the time, pondering whether or not to write more about this drone incursion. Then I saw the most recent update of the North Fire from Inciweb (July 20th about 12:30 PM -- what you see when you access the North Fire Inciweb page may differ). I'd like to share with you what this inciweb update (July 20th about 12:30 PM)  says about drones:

An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS or drone) halted tanker operations for about 25 minutes on Friday afternoon (June 17th), but operations soon resumed. 

Hobby drones, or (UAS) unmanned aircraft systems, pose a major safety threat to firefighting pilots and firefighters. When a hobby drone is flown into a fire area, incident commanders have no choice but to suspend air operations and ground aircraft until the drone is removed from the area. 

As hobby drones have grown in popularity, we have seen an increase in these drones interfering with firefighting operations.A collision could easily result in major damage to our aircraft, injuries to the pilot and crew on board as well as firefighters below, and worse, a midair collision.

 

When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage. On most wildfires, an FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is put into effect and any private aircraft or drone that violates the TFR could face serious criminal charges. 

Even without a TFR, anyone who hampers firefighting efforts could face charges as well. (Inciweb on North Fire (July 20th about 12:30 PM)

The US Forest Service has a great webpage with good information about UAS or hobby drone safety over thier lands and other federal lands: Tips for Responsible Hobby or Recreationals Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or "Drones" on National Forest System Lands.