© 2024 KVPR | Valley Public Radio - White Ash Broadcasting, Inc. :: 89.3 Fresno / 89.1 Bakersfield
89.3 Fresno | 89.1 Bakersfield
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
76 new monthly members to go to reach our March goal! Start a new monthly gift today, or increase your existing monthly donation to help us reach the goal.

Bill Would Allow Fire Fighters To Jam Interfering Drones

Twitter.com / CAL FIRE PIO Kevin Berlant
/
https://twitter.com/CALFIRE_PIO
file photo

First responders are growing increasingly frustrated with owners of hobbyist drones who fly them over wildfires. That’s prompting new proposals from California state lawmakers, as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento.

As the North Fire swept towards Interstate 15 in Southern California this past weekend, fire fighting aircraft rushed to slow its progress. But there were five drones hovering overhead – so the airplanes had to wait until the drones moved on. The fire leapt the freeway and burned dozens of cars.

The U.S. Forest Service says that’s the fourth time in the last month that drones interfered. Republican state Senator Ted Gaines is fed up.

Gaines: “We don’t want people’s lives taken because of some stupid action by a hobbyist drone that may be unaware of the consequence – or perhaps aware and just trying to get some video footage so they can put it on YouTube.” 

Gaines had already called for tougher penalties, including higher fines and the possibility of jail time. Now, he wants to clear the way for more aggressive responses from fire fighters, like jamming technology.

Rivard: “I love it. I absolutely love it.” 

Mike Rivard runs a commercial drone company and started a hobbyist group in Southern California. He calls people who fly drones into fire zones “idiots.”

Rivard: “God, we worked so hard for the last three years to change the opinion and the perception of drones – and just a few guys can ruin it.” 

The Legislature will hear the bills when it returns from summer recess next month.

Related Content