On Thursday, a private drone damaged a firefighting aircraft over the Palisades Fire, causing it to be grounded.
According to Public Information Officer Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crash involving a Canadair CL-415 occurred at approximately 1 p.m.
“Quebec 1 sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service,” stated Scott.
According to Los Angeles County Fire officials, the drone strike caused a hole in the Super Scooper’s wing. The duration of the aircraft’s unusable state is unknown.
Following a drone hit, SuperScooper was grounded.Twitter: https://a7ApxeNHm1.
The event did not result in any reported injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident, reminded the public that operating a drone during firefighting operations is a federal offense that carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $75,000.
“When people fly drones near wildfires, fire response agencies often ground their aircraft to avoid the potential for a midair collision,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website. “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.”
When fighting three large wildfires that were raging over Southern California last year, Cal Fire troops encountered similar problems.