Dozens of unauthorized aircraft flew over the Palisades fire Friday afternoon, forcing firefighting planes to leave the area for safety and angering those working on the front lines, authorities said.
The footage came just a day after a drone collided with a Super Scooper fixed-wing aircraft, grounding the aircraft for several days for repairs and reducing the number of aircraft available to fight the fire.
“This is not just harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” said Chris Thomas, public information officer for the Palisades fire. “Really, what would it have been like if that plane had gone down? It could bring out a series of homes. It might take the school out.”
The latest unauthorized drones were seen flying near the fire’s southeast location, bordering Santa Monica, around 4:40 p.m. Friday, Thomas said.
“For safety reasons, we have to remove all aircraft from the area until we know that the drones are gone,” he said. “So that’s very dangerous, because it takes the power to drop water on the fire.”
“If we have to get helicopters out of the area and the wind picks up one of those cinders in that area and lifts it up, we could ignite another area,” he added.
On Friday evening, there was a large outbreak on the eastern edge of the Palisades fire, prompting evacuations in Brentwood and Encino as the fire moved northeast toward Mandeville Canyon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Aerial footage captured by KTLA showed firefighting planes scrambling to douse the water.
Thomas said law enforcement has been notified of drones and that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating recent incidents.
“We take this very seriously,” he said.
The FAA issued a statement Thursday warning drone operators that temporary flight restrictions are currently in place for all major wildfires in the state, and that failure to obey could result in significant fines.
“It is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, to interfere with firefighting efforts in public areas,” the FAA said in a statement. “In addition, the FAA can impose fines of up to $75,000 on any pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions are in place.”
The idling plane that collided with the Super Scooper left a “fist-sized hole” in the plane, which may not return to the air until Monday, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Thursday.
Marrone said the FBI now plans to come to the area with what he called “air weapons” to make sure no more drones can fly into the fire station.
With the Super Scooper out of service, there are currently 12 helicopters and seven monoplanes battling the Palisades fire, Thomas said.
Firefighters were 8% contained to the 21,317-acre fire Friday evening. The fire continues to grow and threatens homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica and Calabasas.
Times staff writers Terry Castleman and Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
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