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