Firefighters respond to Power Fire, drone puts aircraft at risk
Flagstaff, Ariz., June 27, 2017, For Immediate Release — Coconino National Forest firefighters responded to the Power Fire
southwest of Fort Tuthill around 4 p.m. today and were able to stop the spread of the fire at 3.1 acres.
Firefighting air attack resources were kept from entering the area because an unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, was flying over the fire and spotted in
the area of operations. Whenever a drone is present firefighting aircraft must be removed from the area, for safety reasons.
With aircraft unavailable, a dozer was used to dig a line around the fire to stop its progress.
Firefighting was also aided by a previous fire treatment in this stand of trees which removed fire fuels from the ground and helped the environment of the area.
Forest Service officials continue to emphasize flying drones over or in close proximity to wildfires is illegal, endangers aviators as well as crews on the ground, and slows operations which potentially could result
in the fire increasing in size.
Per the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 9212.1(f), it is illegal to resist
or interfere with the efforts of firefighter(s) to extinguish a fire. Doing so can result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance. So, be smart and just
don't fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire. No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
|
|
|
George F. Jozens
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
|
|
Forest Service
Coconino National Forest, Supervisors Office
|
|
p: 928-527-3412
gjozens@xxxxxxxxx
|
|
1924 S. Thompson St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.fs.fed.us
  
|
|
Caring for the land and serving people
|
|
