Multiple unauthorized drones flew over a fire scene in the Palisades on Friday afternoon, forcing fire planes to retreat from the area to ensure safety and angering front-line workers, authorities said.
These sightings occurred just a day after a drone collided with a Super Scooper fixed-wing aircraft, which took the plane out of service for several days of repairs, reducing the number of aircraft available to fight the fire.
“This isn’t just some harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” Palisades Fire spokesman Chris Thomas said. “Seriously, what would have happened if that plane had crashed? A row of houses could have been destroyed. A school could have been destroyed.”
Thomas said the latest unlicensed drone was seen flying around 4:40 p.m. Friday near the southeastern area of the fire, near the Santa Monica border.
“For safety reasons, all aircraft must be evacuated from the area until we know the drone is gone,” he said. “So you lose the ability to draw water droplets from the fire, so that’s very dangerous.”
“If you have to take a helicopter out of an area and one of the cinder blocks in that area gets picked up by the wind, it could ignite the whole other area,” he added.
There was a significant flare-up on the east end of the Palisades Fire Friday night, and new evacuation orders were issued in Brentwood and Encino as the fire moved northeast toward Mandeville Canyon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Aerial footage captured by KTLA showed fire planes swooping into the area and dropping water.
Thomas said law enforcement has been provided with information about the drone and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the recent incident.
“We take this very seriously,” he said.
The FAA issued a statement Thursday warning drone operators that temporary flight restrictions are currently in place around all major regional fires and failure to comply could result in steep fines. announced.
“Obstructing firefighting operations on public lands is a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison,” the FAA said in a statement. “Additionally, the FAA will impose civil penalties of up to $75,000 against drone pilots who interfere with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response operations while temporary flight restrictions are in place. I can.”
A drone that collided with a Super Scooper left a “fist-sized hole” in its fuselage and likely won’t be back in the air until Monday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Malone said Thursday.
Marrone said the FBI is now planning to come to the area with what he called “aviation armor” to prevent further drone flights within the fire zone. .
With the Super Scooper out of action, 12 helicopters and seven fixed-wing aircraft are currently battling the Palisades fire, Thomas said.
Firefighters were 8% contained on the 21,317-acre fire Friday evening. The fire continues to grow, threatening homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica and Calabasas.
Times staff writers Terry Castleman and Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
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