Private drones flying near consuming fires Los Angeles County continued to hamper aerial firefighting efforts Saturday night, according to officials, as the death toll from the flames rises.
Officials have discovered 48 private drones flying over the fire since hell broke loose Tuesday, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris said during a briefing Saturday night.
“When these private drones are detected, we have to pause firefighting activities, so please help us by not flying drones in the area,” Harris said, adding that police are looking for the owners of the drones and will confront them. potential prosecution.
Authorities are urging civilians not to fly drones near wildfires because they can get in the way of low-flying firefighting aircraft and delay emergency response. Pilot distractions can be deadly.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
On Thursday, someone flew a private drone into the wing of a Quebec 1 Super Scooper firefighting aircraft that was carrying water to fight wildfires. Officials said the collision caused a “fist-sized hole” into the aircraft and put it out of service until at least Monday.
A Super Scooper plane drops water on the Palisades Fire Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, California. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Super Scooper, flown in from Canada, was working to contain the Palisades Fire at the time of the incident. The pilots were unaware of the drone strike, which was not discovered until they landed at Van Nuys Airport and maintenance personnel noticed the hole, officials said.
The FAA is investigating, and a spokesperson told Fox News Digital that obstructing firefighters is a federal crime punishable by up to a year in prison and a $75,000 fine.
Meanwhile, the wildfire death toll has jumped to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. Five deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 11 were the result of the Eaton Fire.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
As of Saturday night, the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had consumed about 62 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco, Cal Fire said. The Palisades and Eaton fires — the two largest wildfires — have burned 59 square miles so far.
Firefighters are still working to contain the Palisades and Eaton fires. Cal Fire reported the Palisades fire at 11% containment and the Eaton fire at 15% containment Saturday night.
Firefighters watch as water falls on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
As the fight continues, the firefighters prepare for another round strong winds is expected as of Monday, said Michael Traum of the California Office of Emergency Services.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and Julia Bonavita, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
