A BC Wildfire Service plane was forced to land and get repairs after being struck by an illegally flying drone over the Cariboo this week.
“One of our birddog aircraft was impacted by a drone on the evening of September 2,” says Fire Information Officer Amanda Graves.
“There was some minor damage to the aircraft on one of its wings. It was repaired that evening and was back in service the following morning.”
Graves was unable to specify the geographical location where the impact on the plane occurred. Though she reminds the public that flying an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), including a drone, in a restricted airspace and near a wildfire is “highly dangerous, as well as highly illegal.”
Unauthorized UAVs are banned within five nautical miles, or 9.3 kilometres, and 3000 feet above ground level around active wildfires.
The BC Wildfire Service reminds people that anyone found flying a drone within a restricted area, or near a wildfire, and interfering with wildfire control efforts can face fines up to $100,000 and/or up to a year in jail.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
