Several agencies, same message: If You Fly, We Can’t
CalFire, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and San Bernardino National Forest, create public service announcement about illegal use of drones
Gus Bahena, 05/San Bernardino National Forest
September 18th, 2024
If you fly, we can’t.
It’s a simple statement with irrefutable support from firefighting and law enforcement agencies. And it was a statement repeated during the Line Fire that started Sept. 5 and burns in the San Bernardino National Forest.
There have been incursions of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, by the public in the area of the Line Fire. The incident air resources include fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, which drop retardant or water on the fire.
Doug Ross, the forest’s Aviation Officer and Air Tactical Group Supervisor, and forest Fire Chief 2 Josh Boehm, participated in the recording of a public service announcement.
(Gus Bahena, Forest Service)The USDA Forest Service states that flying drones could cause injury or death to fire personnel and hamper their ability to protect lives, property and natural and cultural resources. Firefighting aircraft fly at very low altitudes, typically just a couple of hundred feet above the ground, the same altitude as UAS 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.
Two incursions by drones flown by the public resulted in aircraft being grounded, Sept. 17. That afternoon, representatives of the forest, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department came together at a helibase in Redlands, Calif., just a few miles from the wildfire to create a public service announcement reminding the public about the dangers and prohibitions of flying drones. As of Sept. 17, the wildfire size was 39,111 acres with 49 percent containment and had 3,684 personnel assigned.
If the small drone on the table is flown, the very large helicopter in the background can't fly.
(Gus Bahena, Forest Service)The message recorded that day comes from a national campaign started in 2014, said Doug Ross, the forest’s Aviation Officer and Air Tactical Group Supervisor. Ross stated that there has been a record number of drone incursions in recent years. When drone incursions occur, the grounding of aircraft affects the fire fight.
Forest Fire Chief 2 Josh Boehm explained if drones are discovered in the area, aircraft return to their supporting base. The aircraft are then delayed for an hour, before they can fly again to perform their fire suppression activities.
The sheriff’s department stated during the PSA recording that anyone caught flying drones can be fined or face jail time, or both.
The message is very clear from agencies collaborating to contain the Line Fire and keep the public safe: “If You Fly, We Can’t.”
To learn more about the campaign visit the webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/uas/if-you-fly.
The PSA is available below.