TC Releases Reminder - DO NOT FLY NEAR FOREST FIRES!
The Forest Fire Season has begun in BC and Alberta. Transport Canada released a reminder to drone pilots to stay away from forest fires. Not only can drone pilots face fines for flying in forest fires, they can cause severe disruptions to fire fighting activities - putting lives and property at risk.
How to know if there's a forest fire in your area
If you are in a remote area and see smoke, it is most likely a fire. You must stay at least 5nm from the fire. It is an automatic Class F - Restricted (CYR)
If a fire grows, the area where you cannot fly can be expanded. It may appear as a NOTAM and may appear on the NAV Drone Viewer. Remember, a fire may not appear on the map, so keeping a look-out for fires is important when operating in rural areas.
Transport Canada's 3 reminders State:
You cannot operate an aircraft or a drone within 9.3 km (5nm) of wildfires. It is illegal, you could be impeding firefighting operations, and you could be subject to a fine and/or jail time.
If unauthorized drones are present, firefighting aircraft must be grounded and crews must suspend operations. This puts lives and communities at great risk.
If you see unsafe or illegal drone use, report it to local law enforcement. Provide as much information as possible so that incidents can be reviewed more effectively (for example, clear photos or videos, date, time, drone type, other identifying marks, etc.).
