Arizona leads nation in illegal drones flying over wildfires

PHOENIX — Arizona’s lengthy list of wildfires so far in 2017 has correlated with another unfortunate distinction. The Grand Canyon State also has seen the most number of illegal drone flights above those fires.

KNAU’s Ryan Heinsius reports that there have been seven recorded drone flights over wildfires this year.

The Goodwin Fire south of Prescott involved two of those flights, and one of the most publicized resulted in an arrest.

Flying over forest fires is illegal because it causes dangerous flight risks for helicopters and airplanes fighting flames.

Gene Alan Carpenter of Prescott Valley pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Mayer Justice Court and remains free after posting a $25,000 bond for flying his drone over the Goodwin Fire on June 24, shortly after it began.

Yavapai County prosecutors filed two felony endangerment charges against Carpenter.

The FAA has warned drone operators not to fly near fires. Doing so risks not only the aircraft fighting the fires but the firefighters on the ground requiring aerial support.

A dozen illegal drones have been sighted over fires so far this year after 40 cases were recorded in 2016, the National Interagency Fire Center reports.

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