Private drones flying near wildfires in Los Angeles County continued to disrupt aerial firefighting efforts Saturday evening as the death toll from the fires continued to rise, officials said.
Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris said at a news conference Saturday night that officials have spotted 48 private drones flying over the fire since it broke out on Tuesday.
“When these private drones are detected, we must suspend firefighting activities, so we ask that you assist us by not operating drones in the area,” Harris said, adding that the owners of the drones are accepting Police chase and will face legal sanctions.
Authorities are urging civilians not to fly drones near wildfires because they could impede low-flying firefighting aircraft and delay the efforts of emergency responders. Pilot distraction can be fatal.
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A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
A private drone crashed into the wing of a Quebec 1 Super Scooper firefighting aircraft as it was delivering water to put out wildfires on Thursday. Officials said the collision caused a “fist-sized hole” in the plane, rendering it unusable until at least Monday.
A Super Shovel aircraft drops water on the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Tuesday. (Brian Vanderbrugg/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Super Scooper, flown in from Canada, was working to control the Palisades Fire when the incident occurred. Officials said the pilots didn’t know the drone had been hit until they landed at Van Nuys Airport and maintenance crews discovered the flaw.
The FAA is investigating, and a spokesperson told Fox News Digital that interfering with firefighters is a federal crime punishable by up to a year in prison and a $75,000 fine.
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Meanwhile, the death toll related to the wildfires has jumped to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Department. Five people died in the Palisades Fire and 11 died in the Eaton Fire.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Cal Fire said the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had burned about 62 square miles as of Saturday night, making them larger than San Francisco. The two largest wildfires, Palisades and Eaton, have burned 59 square miles so far.
Firefighters are still working to contain fires in Palisade and Eaton. Cal Fire reported that the Palisades Fire was 11% contained and the Eaton Fire was 15% contained late Saturday night.
Firefighters watch as they pour water on the Mandeville Canyon Palisades Fire on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Michael Traum of the California Office of Emergency Services said firefighters are preparing for another round of high winds expected to begin Monday as the battle continues.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and Julia Bonavita and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
