FBI using system to detect drones over wildfires, and the pilots

Posted on Categories UncategorizedTags , ,
Lakeview IHC drone Operation
Lakeview Hotshots using a drone to assist with a burn operation in Alaska in 2019.

This article was first published at Fire Aviation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is using a new system to help wildland firefighters by detecting, identifying, and neutralizing drones that are illegally interfering with firefighting activities.

It is very dangerous to fly a drone near a fire at which helicopters or fixed wing aircraft are operating. A collision could impact the windscreen or damage the engine, props, rotors, or flight control surfaces, causing a crash. If a drone is seen near a fire the standard operating procedure is to remove all aircraft from the fire area until it is confirmed that the drone has left the scene. In other words, it interferes with firefighting efforts.

The FBI is working with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to use a system that can detect a drone flying over a fire within 30 seconds of it being launched.

From CNN:

“When the detection equipment finds the drone and identifies the operator’s location, we can very rapidly get that information to a ground intercept team who can then go make contact with that drone operator and essentially get them to stop flying that drone,” said James Peaco III, the weapons of mass destruction coordinator for the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.

With a special sensor, the team can set up a boundary as large or as small as desired and get notified if a drone flies into that area, instantly obtaining precise details such as elevation, direction, speed as well as where the drone took off from and where the controller is currently standing.

“The first thing we do is order them to bring the drone back, explain to him that there’s a wildfire and flying that drone during a wildland fire is actually a federal felony,” Peaco said.

It’s a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, Congress has authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of up to $20,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response operations. The FAA treats these violations seriously, and will immediately consider swift enforcement action for these offenses.

According to the US Forest Service, in 2019 at least 20 documented instances of unauthorized drone flights over or near wildfires in seven states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Minnesota) resulted in aerial firefighting operations being temporarily shut down nine times. There is no centralized national mechanism to report unauthorized UAS flights over wildfires, so these are only the incidents that wildfire management agencies have become aware of, there are likely more that are not known about.

Suspending air operations could decrease the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations, allowing wildfires to grow larger, and in some cases, unduly threaten lives, property, and valuable natural and cultural resources. The effects of lost aircraft time could be compounded by flames moving into untreated terrain.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom and Gerald.

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

14 thoughts on “FBI using system to detect drones over wildfires, and the pilots”

  1. Let the FBI know I am willing to speak with them on the topic of drones and Wildland Fires as well- that is up my expertise and training, and they can learn a lot from ONE moment with me- show them the raw ways to be the “eyes in the sky”. Truth leads to trust.

    0
    0
    1. That footage was captured by an OCFA UAS operated in by an FAA licensed pilot in coordination with the incident management structure, not by some 17 year old endangering fire pilots and firefighters on the ground by violating fire airspace.

      0
      0
  2. I’m a little confused here. On one hand you got Valsack saying he wants to use drones. You have the military using drones. You have a shortage of employees and then on the other hand you say no drones. Why not hire these people to fly drones for you? Maybe a partnership… like Randy is always talking about. Just an idea!

    0
    0
    1. Drones are fine on a fire when flown by properly authorized, trained personnel who are communicating their location and intent with fire command. Flying them doesn’t require specialized training. Flying them as part of the official Fire response team would.

      0
      0
        1. There are plenty of agency pilots out there, with more getting licensed by FAA every day. No need to train folks with zero background in fire.

          0
          0
    2. The guys who fly drones over a wildfire incident are dangerous scofflaws, SR, not the type of employee the FS and other fire agencies want to hire. Maybe you’re thinking of the black hat hackers who get their prison time reduced by agreeing to work for the FBI.

      0
      0
      1. Kelly, actually, I was thinking about how the NWS organized/trained people who were driving around tornadoes into storm/tornado chasers. These people were thought to be dangerous people until AMS/NWS realized that they could work with these people and save money and save lives. You see these people were driving their own cars and spending their own money on gas, radios, and other gadgets. Just think if the NPS/FS could reach out to these people who are fly the drones. They could either bring them on as volunteers or hire them. If the NPS/FS brought them on as volunteers, they could cut cost by 1) not paying them and 2) use their drones. I’m just saying, if Valsack wants drones, but doesn’t want to pay for them or pay $15/hr for a firefighter to fly them, it’s a cheap solution. Valsack gets his drones, and the drone operators get to fly their drones near a wildfire. Win-Win situation. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the dangers. I’ve worked with drones…in the military…with weapons on them…so I understand the dangers. But, I guess, if they want to throw these people in jail, that’s another solution. You know, because then the people can “volunteer” to be prison firefighter. Which still works out for the NPS/FS. Then they can pay them $1 a day…but then of course, you don’t get use the drones. So, maybe not a win-win, especially for the drone operators who are now in jail. But, to end on a happy note, if the NPS/FS could work with the people who are flying the drones, it could be an opportunity to recruit. You see, I was one of those crazy people who drove around chasing tornadoes. When Ely from the NWS reach out to me. At 16, he saw my potential and I became a tornado chaser and then years later I went to Texas A&M and I became a meteorologist. All it took was someone to talk to me instead of assuming the worse. Just an idea!

        0
        0
        1. Sorry SR. You can’t win this one. Often time you bring a fresh perspective into the discussion here. Random people operating drones who aren’t in contact with a single person on the fire is a very bad thing. These folks just want the entertainment value of flying the drone. Once you require a person to follow strict, rules and regulations it would take the fun out of their “walk in the park”. Using these techniques and strategies provided by the FBI will be helpful on large incidents. I wonder how quickly these could get in place. Especially on a rapidly emerging incident in WUI.

          0
          0
      2. I mean the FS and other agencies hire inmates and people like myself, fresh out of prison, all the time. These “scofflaws” would be no different and quite an asset if trained properly

        0
        0
  3. On one hand, What took so long?! on the other, good thing a pilot didn’t have to die and wreck a ship to find a solution to this problem. You’d think the news choppers would have wanted this addressed a long time ago too.

    0
    0

Comments are closed.