Drone grounds helicopters battling Lytton wildfire
Posted June 19, 2021 7:09 pm.
Last Updated June 19, 2021 7:11 pm.
LYTTON (NEWS 1130) — A drone sighting grounded a fleet of helicopters that had been fighting a massive wildfire near Lytton for a time on Saturday.
B.C. Wildfire Service says after the drone was spotted, the helicopter crews bucketing water on the fire were forced to stop battling the 250 hectare blaze. The George Road fire started on Wednesday, June 16, and is classified as out of control.
There has been a drone sighting in the vicinity of the George Road (K70904) wildfire. As a result, air operations on the south side of the fire have been halted. This activity is extremely dangerous and poses a significant safety risk to personnel. #Lytton #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/JBVTfIpkAC
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) June 19, 2021
“You can imagine this type of activity is extremely dangerous and poses a significant safety risk to personnel, especially when low flying aircraft are present,” Fire Information Officer Madison Smith says.
The consequences for flying a drone near firefighting aircraft can be considerable.
“Anyone caught operating a drone that interferes with fire control could be fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to one year, or both,” Smith says.
Air drops on the George Road fire resumed at 2pm on Saturday, after being grounded for about an hour and a half.
If a drone collides with firefighting aircraft the consequences could be deadly. Anyone caught operating a drone that interferes with fire operations could be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to one year or both. #Lytton #BCWildfire
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) June 19, 2021
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the evacuation alerts, which were set up in the area, have not grown.
