On Thursday, an aircraft engaged in combating wildfires across Los Angeles collided with a civilian drone. This incident resulted in damage to the wing of the aircraft—a CL-415 “Super Scooper” known for its ability to scoop up 1,600 gallons of ocean water to douse nearby blazes. A statement from the LA County Fire Department on X indicated that the aircraft is now out of service until repairs can be made.
Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas informed The New York Times that the grounding of the Super Scooper will likely hinder local firefighting efforts. Typically, Super Scoopers can refill in approximately five minutes; however, even a ten-minute delay results in a loss of six water drops per hour. “So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it?” Thomas questioned. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the Super Scooper landed safely post-collision and that the incident is currently under investigation.
In response to the situation, temporary flight restrictions have been implemented in the Los Angeles area, prohibiting drones and other aircraft from flying without FAA authorization to safeguard firefighting operations.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated that the drone involved in the incident was not authorized to assist with the Palisades fires and was destroyed upon impact. Marrone informed the LA Times that the FBI is considering the introduction of “aerial armor” in the area to prevent further drone interference.
Despite the risks, several individuals have breached the FAA-enforced flight restrictions, sharing viral drone photos and videos on social media that depict the devastation in what appears to be restricted airspace. Fire response teams are often compelled to ground their aircraft to avoid dangerous collisions when unauthorized drones are flown near wildfires for online clout.
The FAA has declared, “It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands.” Furthermore, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 on any drone pilot who disrupts wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response operations. The FAA is serious about these violations and seeks to take swift enforcement action against offenders.
