JACKSON, Wyo. — After recent incidents involving civilian drone aircrafts disrupting active fires and a sick mountain lion, Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) are asking unmanned aerial system (UAS) operators to make sure they know the rules going into the summer season.
A drone flew over the Horse Fire on Saturday, June 14, according to a social media post by BTNF, forcing the grounding of aviation resources and interrupting operations.
“Drones stop critical aerial firefighting operations, such as water drops and reconnaissance flights,” BTNF posted. “Keep drones out of wildfire zones. If you fly, we can’t!”
Additionally, on Thursday, June 19, a drone was spotted over the active West Clark Fire near Pocatello, Idaho on CTNF.
CTNF wrote via Facebook that flying drones over active wildfires “is a serious violation of both BLM and FAA regulations. Flying drones over wildfires is illegal and extremely dangerous.” Individuals are prohibited from flying UAS without authorization over wildfires whether a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place or not.
“Individuals who have been determined to have endangered manned aircraft or people on the ground with a UAS and/or interfered with wildfire suppression may be subject to civil penalties, including fines of up to $25,000, and potentially criminal prosecution,” the USFS website states.
Takeoff and landing of a UAS is also prohibited in lands administered by the National Park Service and in wilderness areas administered by a variety of federal agencies such as the USFS and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Drone restrictions on BTNF and CTNF are in place to protect the solitude of wilderness for visitors, to prevent harassment of wildlife and to ensure the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. Drones are required to stay more than 100 meters (328 feet) from wildlife to avoid causing significant stress.
The USFS shared the following risks, regulations and repercussions for flying civilian drones.
- Safety Risk: Drones can collide with firefighting aircraft, causing severe accidents or fatalities.
- Operational Delays: When a drone is detected, all aerial firefighting operations must be halted, delaying critical efforts to control the fire.
- Legal Consequences: Unauthorized drone flights in a TFR zone can result in significant fines and criminal charges.
- BLM Policy: It is illegal to fly drones over wildfires. Violators can face federal charges under 43 CFR 9212.1(f) .
- FAA Policy: The FAA enforces TFRs to protect firefighting operations. Violating a TFR can result in fines and potential criminal charges.
- Grounded Operations: Every minute aerial operations are grounded, the fire can grow, endangering lives and property.
“Your drone footage is not worth the risk to lives and property,” CTNF wrote. “Please respect the rules and help us keep everyone safe.”
For more information, visit the FAA’s TFR webpage and the BLM’s UAS policies.
