Skip to main content

Drone spotted above B.C. Interior wildfire causes firefighting aircraft to divert

Multiple wildfires within the B.C. Interior have sprung up over the past week after lightning struck the forest. The fires were aided by a mixture of hot and dry weather. According to BC Wildfire Service; air operations were suspended and firefighting aircraft were diverted on Monday after the sighting of a drone above the Wilson Creek fire, located 19km east of Nakusp.

Aerial efforts halted

According to the Columbia Valley Pioneer, at the fire located near Wilson Creek, a helicopter dumping water on the flames was forced to land due to the drone’s presence. Other aircraft providing assistance were also forced to divert from their assigned flight plans to avoid the airspace surrounding Little Wilson Lake.

Penalties

As a reminder from the BC Wildfire Service; It is illegal to fly drones within a radius of five nautical miles or an altitude of 3,000 feet above a wildfire. According to Transport Canada regulations, the operator could face a $25,000 fine or up to 18 months in jail.

Aside from drone flying, anyone interfering with firefighting efforts will be penalized with a fine up to $100,000 and a year in jail. This was put into place in 2016 under the B.C.’s Wildfire Act. Officials are still looking for the pilot of the spotted UAV.

This is not the first time drones have flown above wildfires. A small drone was able to capture the devastating destruction above a massive blaze in Saddleworth Moor, North West England. The team at DroneDJ carefully reminds any pilots to stay away from emergency efforts of any kind. Keep your drone on the ground and allow trained professionals to complete their job safely!

What do you think about these knuckleheads flying over wildfires? Let us know in the comments below.

STAY IN TOUCH!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors and reviews, then follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or sign up for our email newsletter DroneRise, that goes out every weekday morning at 6 am.

If you’d like to help us grow, you can buy your next drone through one of the following links directly from manufacturers, such as DJI, Parrot, Yuneec or retailers like Amazon, B&H, BestBuy or eBay. We will make a small commission and it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Photo credit: Global News

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading DroneDJ — experts who break news about DJI and the wider drone ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow DroneDJ on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.