After a dryer-than-usual winter, the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center is reminding Minnesotans about the wildfire activity throughout the state, and that the unauthorized use of drones within the vicinity of any wildfire is prohibited. โDrones are distractions to firefighters working in a hectic wildfire environment,โ Minnesota Interagency Fire Centerโs Leanne Langeberg said. โSending a drone up for a quick view of a wildfire may seem harmless to an operator, but it is a preventable safety hazard for firefighters.โ The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said smoke-filled air limits visibility for pilots flying drones, but despite those concerns, drones continue to be flown unannounced near Minnesota wildfires. When drones are spotted near wildfires, all responding aircraft are directed to land or return to the airport until the airspace is clear, something the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said can delay valuable time that could be used to slow down a rapidly moving wildfire.
