Drones pose new risks for firefighters battling California wildfires
TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. -- Dozens of wildfires are burning in the West again Tuesday. In Northern California, the "Jerusalem fire" more than doubled in size to 12,000 acres overnight before merging with another fire.
Also more than doubling, the number of encounters between firefighting aircraft and drones. It happened 13 times this year compared to four last year.
As photographer Jeff Hall guided his drone into the air in Northern California, he captured images of the huge plume of smoke rising from a growing wildfire.
As dangerous as wildfires can be, drone pilots have been drawn to them. At least 13 times this year firefighters have reported seeing drones flying near major fires.
For pilots of firefighting aircraft, drones have become another hazard in an already risky business. Imagine suddenly seeing a drone heading straight at your helicopter.
Pilot Jason Thrasher had a near miss with a drone on a fire last year. He says even though a drone is just a few pounds, and a helicopter is much bigger, it can still do harm.
"If a drone like that were to go into a tail rotor or a main rotor system, it could have catastrophic consequences," he said.
California Fire has launched a campaign urging drone pilots to stay away. And there are growing demands for drone regulations. NASA is developing an Air Traffic Control system for a day when drones are as common as cars.
"There could be a future where every home could have a drone and every home could serve as airport," said NASA Scientist Parimal Kopardekar.
Sean Suitter's company Micro Avionics has developed technology that could make every drone identifiable.
"You would know miles in advance that it was approaching," said Suitter. "And who it belonged to."
For now, drones operate largely without controls, but firefighters in upstate New York found a way to tell a drone pilot he wasn't welcomed by spraying water at his drone.