California wildfires continue with dry conditions and powerful winds —which are due to last through Friday — fueling at least ...

“Wind gusts are expected to increase in daylight hours that will test our containment lines ... punishable by up to 12 months in prison. The FAA can also fine a drone pilot up to $75,000 ...

"The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the (temporary flight restrictions)." The FAA said it could impose a civil penalty of ...

DJI software won't stop you from flying a drone over restricted areas anymore. A former DJI executive suggests that's a bad ...

LOS ANGELES — An unauthorized drone collided with an air tanker battling the Palisades Fire on January 9, 2025, tearing a hole in the tanker's wing and rendering it inoperable to fight the fires.

According to the FAA, you can still be arrested and fined, even if TFRs are not in place. "Even if a TFR is not in place, drone pilots should avoid flying near wildfires," the FAA states.

Some less-obvious areas are restricted, too: It's unlawful to fly a drone around national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, per the FAA. But DJI's former VP of Policy and Legal Affairs Brendan ...

The FAA, which is also investigating the incident, said flying a drone near a wildfire was dangerous, and could cost lives and delay firefighting efforts. "It's a federal crime, punishable by up ...

"We take this very, very seriously," he said. The FAA released a statement on Thursday warning drone operators that temporary flight restrictions are currently in place around all major regional ...

The FAA has since confirmed that geofencing isn't required for drones. Remote ID tech, a new standard as of March 2024, can be used to determine drone locations. But smaller drones less than 0.55 ...