AIRTANKER Base Regarding

  DRONE  INCIDENTS at Local Fires  

 

“IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T”

The message on fliers by the Forest Service to drone enthusiasts.

 

After members of the public flying drones disrupted wildfire operations in Southern California twice the second week of the Lake Fire, Federal, State, and local wildfire managers are again urging the public not to fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), often referred to as drones, within or near wildfires to ensure Fire Fighter safety and the effectiveness of suppression operations.

Wednesday June 24th, air-tanker operations were suspended, on the Lake Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, after drones flown by members of the public, were detected in the fire areas.  Thursday June 25th, air-tanker operations were again suspended on the Sterling Fire on the San Bernardino National Forest.

Recent news articles on this site: 

 http://www.bigbearlake.net/etnews/dangerous-drones-

http://www.bigbearlake.net/etnews/public-notice-

A Press Conference was called for All Media Wednesday June 24, 2015, by the U.S. Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management Officers.  The conference took place at the San Bernardino National Forest Airtanker Base, Thursday morning June 25th.  The Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management speakers’ purpose was to give the press correct information of interference of drones at recent Wildfires.  

Television, Radio, Newspaper and Internet News agencies met to gather the information from those officials directly involved and what to communicate to the public about the dangers of drone interfering within the fire’s perimeters.


   

 

LEFT:  Ross Sevy, Field Representative for Assemblyman Jay Obernolte and Nick Calero Field Representative for Senator Mike Morrell, discuss the drone dangers with CalFire Firefighter.  RIGHT:  John Miller, PIO for San Bernardino Forest Service chats with a Redlands Reporter

PHOTOS BY Richard Millener