While aerial photos of wildfires can be breathtaking, drones are a flight hazard when crews are fighting wildfires.
By law, wildfires are a no-drone zone in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. §15A-300.4 prohibits any person, entity or state agency from using an unmanned aircraft system, i.e., drone, within either a horizontal distance of 3,000 feet or a vertical distance of 3,000 feet from any wildfire within the jurisdiction of the N.C. Forest Service.
Firefighting aircraft that respond to wildfires fly low in support of ground personnel. Drones can pose a serious threat to pilot and public safety. A drone that disrupts air operations also puts firefighters, residents and property at risk of loss to wildfire.
Exceptions to this law include a person operating an unmanned aircraft system with the consent of the official in responsible charge of management of the wildfire.
Before deploying a drone near or above a wildfire, please coordinate all drone activity with the NCFS on-scene representative to ensure drone activity does not interfere with or disrupt air operations.
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