Citing recent clashes between civilian drone encounters that slowed recent firefights, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, introduced the Safe Drone Act on Wednesday to address the growing problem of jeopardizing public safety by flying too close to wildfires and airports.
In announcing the legislation, Boxer cited the fiery July 17 incident on Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass. That’s when civilian drones flying near firefighting aircraft forced them to leave for about 20 minutes.
The wildfire ignited 20 vehicles as it swept across the freeway.
Separately, at the Lake and Mill2 fires — both in San Bernardino County this summer — firefighting aircraft were temporarily grounded because drones flew above the fires, presenting a hazard to pilots, U.S. Forest Service officials have said.
“Our firefighters and airplane pilots should be focused on keeping the public safe — not worrying about unauthorized drones that recklessly interfere with jobs,” Boxer said in a statement supporting the legislation.
The Safe Drone Act is the Senate’s companion piece to legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, in the House of Representatives in late August.
Boxer’s bill would make it a misdemeanor, subject to a fine and not more than a year in prison, or both, for someone to operate a drone in a restricted area, which is within a 2-mile radius of an airport or within two miles of the outermost perimeter of an ongoing firefighter operation involving the Department of Agriculture or Department of Interior.