Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
$75,000 Offered To Find Some Jerks Who Flew Drones During Wildfires
San Bernardino County is offering $75,000 to find the drone operators who delayed firefighting efforts during wildfires (Photo by Dan McCullough via the Creative Commons on Flickr)
()
$75,000 in reward money is being offered for information that leads to the identity of the jerks who flew drones during three massive wildfires, delaying firefighting efforts. All five San Bernardino County supervisors decided yesterday to spend $75,000 on rewards in order to help find the drone operators responsible for grounding firefighting aircraft during three major wildfires, the L.A. Times reports. These three fires include the Lake Fire, the North Fire and the Mill 2 Fire.
The Lake Fire occurred on June 17, destroying over 31,000 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest and the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The Mill 2 Fire began on July 12, and impacted 54 acres. The North Fire on July 17, which caused an apocalyptic scene of blazing cars on the 15 freeway at the Cajon Pass, saw aircraft grounded for 25 minutes after drones were spotted in the airspace.
When hobbyists fly their drones during emergencies that require assistance via aircraft—such as those gigantic wildfires SoCal is prone to—firefighters can't fly their aircraft for much-needed water drops. There's a possibility, according to fire officials, that a drone might strike an aircraft, damaging it or potentially causing harm to the pilots and crew on board. Therefore, fire crews have had to ground life-saving aircraft numerous times because of selfish drones operators trying to get a cool video. This has occasionally caused wildfires to spread further, according to fire officials. In the North Fire, which jumped the 15 freeway and set cars and trucks ablaze, Battalion Chief Marc Peebles of the San Bernardino County Fire Department said that drones—including two that gave chase to aircraft—contributed to the fire jumping the freeway.
A recently proposed bill would give firefighters the ability to destroy or disable drones that are interfering with an emergency. Another bill would mean fines or possibly jail time for any droner operator who interferes with firefighting efforts, search and rescue or air ambulance. U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) has introduced a law that would make flying a drone over a wildfire a federal offense with a possibility of five years in prison.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist