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Recently, there have been two drone incursions on the Ross Fork Fire. One of the drones came extremely close to a helicopter while it was in flight. Flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and can cost lives. Firefighting aircraft fly at very low altitudes, typically just a couple of hundred feet above the ground, the same altitude as drones flown by members of the public. When people fly drones near wildfires, the incident grounds firefighting aircraft to avoid the potential for a midair collision. Delaying airborne response poses a threat to firefighters on the ground, residents and property in nearby communities, and it can allow wildfires to grow larger. If You Fly, We Can’t.

The Federal Aviation Administration has a Temporary Flight Restriction in place for the Ross Fork Fire https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_2381.html. All aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying in the restricted area unless they’re operated by an agency that’s involved in the firefighting operation. It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, Congress has authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of up to $20,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations.

If you see a drone flying in the area of the Ross Fork Fire, please report it immediately to the Blaine County Sherriff’s Department and the Boise FAA Flight Standards District Office at 208-387-4000 with as much information as possible. Thank you for your assistance.