VIDEO: Cal Fire officials are urging the public to keep drones away from active wildfires after a near collision last week between a drone and a firefighting helicopter battling the Steele Fire in Jamul. The incident happened Wednesday as Cal Fire aircraft were working to contain the fast-moving blaze that threatened homes and prompted evacuations in the East County community. Capt. Robert Johnson, with Cal Fire’s Ramona Air Attack Base, said the presence of a drone in the airspace forced at least one helicopter to take evasive action — and put both pilots and ground crews in danger. “Anytime you get drones in the area, it poses a huge safety risk to those aircraft, the pilots, as well as firefighters on the ground,” Johnson said.
“That’s going to cause our firefighting aircraft to be grounded or have to fly to another area until that drone is out of the area.” Johnson said air tankers and helicopters are critical tools in the early stages of a wildfire. Without aerial support, ground crews face tougher conditions and wildfires can grow more quickly. Officials also cited a past incident that illustrates the danger drones pose to firefighting aircraft. In January, a drone struck a Canadian Super Scooper working the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, tearing a 3-by-6-inch hole in the aircraft’s left wing. The plane was grounded for five days for repairs.
