One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
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.
Stop Flying Drones Near Wildfires!
A helicopter drops water on the San Gabriel Complex Fire near Duarte. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Firefighters appear to be finally making progress on the wildfires that have scorched over 5,000 acres in the San Gabriel Valley, but no thanks to some hobbyist aviators.On Saturday, firefighters lifted the evacuation orders for residents in the Azusa and Duarte area affected by the San Gabriel Complex Fire and reopened the Chantry Flat Recreation Area. According to the L.A. Times, the fire had been 62-percent contained as of early Sunday morning.
Due to the steep terrain in the area affected, a lot of the effort has been concentrated on airdrops and airlifting crews into remote areas. Unfortunately on Saturday, officials recorded "multiple intrusions by drones over the fire," according to an incident report. Air-based efforts had to be temporarily halted as a result. "When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage," said the incident report.
Firefighters faced similar challenges from amateur drones last year when they battled wildfires in San Bernardino County. A $75,000 was eventually offered to track down the drone operators in that case.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
