Arizona fire officials say drone use interfering with work on Bighorn blaze

PHOENIX – Firefighters in Arizona are battling several fires this week and commanders are dealing with a threat that has become a yearly problem – illegal use of drones over fires.

Coronado National Forest says the air attack on the Bighorn Fire near Oro Valley north of Tucson had to be grounded Monday for the second time in three days because of drone flying.

“They’re risking the safety of the pilots, firefighters on the ground, the public,” Arizona Forestry and Fire Management spokeswoman Tiffany Davila said of the drones.

This drone interfered at a critical time during the height of the burning period. Incident Commander Lathe Evans says that the percentage of containment has not increased, while acreage burned has increased largely due to this illegal drone incursion.

As of Tuesday morning, Bighorn Fire was at 2,550 acres with 10% containment.

Drones are “also hindering suppression efforts because if we find a drone in the fire area we have to immediately ground aircraft providing suppression assistance,” Davila said.

The fear each year is that a collision between a drone and an air tanker or helicopter could potentially bring down aircraft into homes or firefighters.

Wildfires are a no drone zone. Anyone caught flying a drone in that airspace could face jail time, thousands of dollars in fines and confiscation of the drone.

“If you fly, we can’t. You’re putting people’s lives at risk and property in danger, increasing fire size and putting communities at risk,” Davila said.

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