Drone collides with B.C. Wildfire Service plane in restricted airspace

FILE - A drone lands for a battery swap at Rockaway Beach in New York, Thursday, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The B.C. Wildfire Service is reminding the public that flying drones in restricted airspace near wildfires is illegal, after one of its planes was struck in the province’s Central Interior.

The BCWS shared the reminder on social media Thursday, but did not specify when or where the collision occurred.

The service said only that the “birddog” aircraft was struck in the Cariboo Fire Centre, and that the drone that hit it was “illegally flying within the restricted airspace” near a wildfire.

“Interference such as this poses significant risk to responder and public safety and impacts our ability to respond during critical periods,” the BCWS post reads, adding that anyone found interfering with wildfire control efforts – including by flying drones – can face penalties of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail.

A birddog plane is the lead aircraft in a group of firefighting planes, according to the BCWS. It is generally occupied by an experienced firefighter, who sits next to the pilot and co-ordinates the other aircraft involved in the mission.

Both Transport Canada and the BCWS prohibit all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones from flying near wildfires. The restricted airspace around an active wildfire spans five nautical miles (9.3 kilometres) and 3,000 feet above ground level, according to the BCWS.

The service asks members of the public to report all drones and UAVs spotted near wildfires immediately by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555.