A man who was piloting a drone that collided with a fireballer who was working in the Parisade fire agreed to admit guilty of light sin, and agreed to pay fine and complete community services. The government said on Friday.
Calver City’s 56 -year -old Peter Trip Acheman was charged with unmanned aircraft safe operation. Prosecutors said that it could still be up to a year in the federal prison.
The drone said that the authorities flew in the limited airspace on January 9, put a fist -sized hole on the wings of the Super Scooper. The collision knocked out the plane from the committee for about five days and destroyed the drone.
As part of the judicial agreement, Akeman agreed to pay the entire amount to the Cebec government in Canada and the company that repaired the plane. According to prosecutors, it costs at least $ 65,169 to repair an airplane.
Akeman also agreed to complete a 150 -hour community service to support South California’s South California’s mountain fire rescue activities.
When the Parisade fire is furious on January 7, the Super Skoper drops water on the hill.
(Brian Van Van del Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“The defendant was flying an aircraft to the airspace, and the first response was at risk to protect his life and property,” he plays ATTY. Joseph T. McNalie said in a press release.
According to the California Forestry and Fire Defense Bureau, the Palisade of the Wind driving was furious in the Pacific Parisade and the surrounding community for several days, burned 23,400 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed more than 6,800 facilities.
Running Los Angeles County introduced temporary flight restrictions beyond a part of Southern California. These restrictions mean that all aircraft that are not involved in the inhibitory control operation must obtain permission to enter the airspace. Authorities said that the drone had not been granted when the drone collided with the plane.
The drone flew in the fire area was a permanent problem because the firefighter fought the Parisade fire. The devastated aerial video that created the flame was spread by word of mouth in social media, but it was frequently criticized by authorities and others who said that the drone that shot the image was risking the battle of fire. Ta.
“This is not a harmless pleasure. This is very dangerous,” said Chris Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Parisades Fire, told the Times this month after the Super Skooker hit. “Seriously, what happens if the plane has fallen? It may have been able to take out the line of the house. You may have been able to take the school.”
With the collision and FL humiliation of others’ flight restrictions, the Federal Aviation Bureau has issued a strict warning to the flying drone near the wildfire.
“It’s a federal crime that can be punished for up to 12 months in prison to hinder firefighting on public land,” FAA said. “In addition, FAA can impose up to $ 75,000 civil penalty for a wildfire, law execution organization, or drone pilots that interfere with emergency response operations during temporary flight restrictions.”
The drone flew in the Wildfire zone has been a problem for FAA and firefighters for at least 10 years.
In 2019, the United States Forest Bureau reported that in seven states, including California, at least 20 unauthorized drone flights are near or close. According to the Forest Bureau, the flight was temporarily closed nine times a year.
“This damage caused by a super scooper reminds me of the ability to make an extreme threat to those who are trying to help people in an emergency and compromise on the ability of police and fire.” I said. “As shown in this case, it tracks drone operators that violate the law and hinder important tasks of the first responders.”
The American alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives spent a few weeks to investigate the cause of the Parisard fire. From the beginning, there was an eight -acre flame that I thought I had left in the same area on January 1st on January 1, and it spread and spread due to the intense wind.
However, according to the sources, there was no conclusion this week, and there was still a fire on January 7.
Terry Castleman and Grustohei, the Times staff writer, contributed to this report
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