Oregon and Other States Warn Drone Pilots to Stay Clear of Wildfire Zones as Unauthorized Flights Delay Firefighting Operations

Oregon officials say unauthorized drones near the Grasshopper Fire have delayed firefighting operations, with violators facing civil penalties up to $75,000 and up to 12 months in federal prison.

Original report
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Industry impact

Unauthorized drone incursions show how a single unregistered aircraft can ground an entire firefighting air operation, exposing gaps between recreational airspace use and emergency flight coordination.

What happened

Oregon emergency officials are warning drone operators to keep their aircraft grounded near active wildfires as the state battles what officials describe as its worst wildfire season on record. The Oregon Department of Aviation and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management have reminded residents that active wildfire areas are designated "No Drone Zones."

Oregon Department of Aviation Director Kenji Sugahara said reports of drones flying near the still-burning Grasshopper Fire have already delayed firefighting activities. "We've been hearing that there's been issues with drones flying around the Grasshopper Fire, which has been delaying operations," Sugahara said, adding that "when there's fire spreading, those 15 minutes, 30 minutes, that they're delayed in operation, that fire is going to spread that much further." Oregon officials said individuals who fly drones near active wildfires may face civil penalties of up to $75,000, federal prison sentences of up to 12 months, confiscation of equipment, and the loss of pilot certificates.

The Federal Aviation Administration can establish Temporary Flight Restrictions around active wildfires, prohibiting unauthorized aircraft, including drones, from operating in designated airspace. The U.S. Forest Service's "If You Fly, We Can't" campaign has documented at least 20 drone incidents across eight additional states, resulting in aerial firefighting operations being temporarily shut down nine times. Utah officials warned residents to stay away from wildfire zones earlier this month after aerial firefighting operations on the Eight Mile Fire near Cedar City were interrupted when a drone was spotted in the area, threatening to cancel further flight operations until the threat was resolved.

Who this affects

• Air Traffic Management (ATM) Authorities — Fast, well-publicized flight restrictions around new fire starts are what keep unauthorized drones from grounding aerial firefighting fleets.
• General Aviation Airports — Airfields near active fire zones face tighter coordination demands as firefighting aircraft and restricted airspace expand around blazes like the Grasshopper Fire.