Aerial firefighting efforts for the North Fire were suspended earlier today when a drone was spotted in the vicinity of the fire near the Cajon Pass. While firefighting operations resumed a short time later, the fire had spread and in the end, numerous passenger vehicles caught fire on the freeway as their owners fled on foot.
Incidents like these are becoming more common as the popularity of drones has risen and the costs have dropped. Fire officials are urging owners of drones to get educated about the rules and regulations and to use common sense when operating in the vicinity of major incidents like brush fires.
Drones Interfere With California Firefighters Battling Wildfires
“No picture or video is worth a life…” Unauthorized #drones & #wildfires don’t mix (:30) http://t.co/oTy84Npc4K #UAS #safety #aviation
— USFS Fire-California (@R5_Fire_News) July 17, 2015
#NorthFire (Update) Firefighting aircraft has been grounded due to drone activity in the area pic.twitter.com/aVkx5Ud2JU
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) July 17, 2015