Don’t fly your drone into a burning wildfire. As tempting as it is to capture video of the devastation, it could prevent firefighters from carrying out their duties. The Los Angeles Times reported that this is exactly what happened in Los Angeles on January 9, when a drone collided with a Super Shovel fire extinguisher.
The incident occurred as Los Angeles was battling the worst wildfires in its history, with thousands of homes burned and at least 10 people killed. The drone collision forced the aircraft to abandon its mission and land elsewhere for repairs. Photos of the plane show an obvious hole in one of its wings:
According to the Los Angeles Times, police are currently trying to identify the person who flew the drone, and the FAA is investigating the incident.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has warned that flying a drone in a firefighting zone could result in up to 12 months in jail or a $75,000 fine.