When a fire broke out last year near a Utah mountain lake, firefighters encountered an object that proved a bigger problem than any of the flames: A drone buzzing nearby that forced them to halt their efforts until they could ensure it was gone.
Fire crews can't risk the unmanned aerial devices colliding with their planes and helicopters, so they pull out until the drones are gone, said Jason Curry of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. These increasingly frequent delays waste thousands of taxpayer dollars, risk wildfires spreading and could cause deadly crashes, he said.
A new proposal in the Utah Legislature aims to address this burgeoning problem by creating a penalty of jail time for people who fly their drones within 3 miles of a wildfire.
Legislators are scheduled to discuss the measure during a House committee Tuesday afternoon. Curry hopes lawmakers back the bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Kraig Powell of Heber City.