Based in Boise, Idaho the National Interagency Fire Center is the nation’s support center for wildland firefighting. The employees at NIFC have one mission “to ensure wildland fire personnel and other emergency services employees across the nation receive the support and information they need to do their job in a safe, effective and efficient manner. Cooperation and collaboration among national and state wildland fire entities is at the core of everything that takes place at NIFC.”
While the NIFC is focused on interagency cooperation, they also need the cooperation of the general public and have issued the following statement about the growing problem of civilian drones interfering with aerial firefighting:
“Here is our continued ask that you know before you fly! There have been 21 reported public drone incursions this fire year 2024. In 10 of those instances, firefighting aircraft operations were shut down. When these aircraft are grounded, wildfires can grow in size which greatly hampers firefighting efforts. If you fly, we can’t.”
The obvious concern is the potential for collisions between drones and wildfire fighting aircraft. Even a small drone can cause significant damage to aircraft engines, windshields, or control surface. Flying drones at low altitude airspace during normal circumstances may be approved in your area but firefighting aircraft often swoop quite low to the ground to deliver retardants and water to hard to reach fires and even low flying drones can hamper operations. If there is smoke in the air, leave your drone at home.