SPOKANE, Wash. – Unauthorized drone operators are hampering critical firefighting efforts at the Spokane Complex fires, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) prohibiting all unauthorized aircraft from the fire zone’s airspace.
Despite the restrictions, the FBI Counter UAS Task Force detected 26 unauthorized drones on August 2 and 13 more on August 3, forcing aerial firefighting operations to stop at least once.
The task force includes members from the King County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Seattle Police Department, and Washington State Patrol.
Operating a drone without proper authorization in restricted airspace is illegal and dangerous, with potential civil or criminal penalties, authorities said.
Before flying, drone operators must check for Temporary Flight Restrictions, No Drone Zones, and local ordinances.
The FAA’s TFR Map and Information can be accessed here.
For more information, contact Sergeant Jermaine Walker of the Washington State Patrol at (253) 312-8880 or jermaine.walker@wsp.wa.gov.
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