Drones force grounding of firefighting aircraft in Spokane

Aircraft fighting the Spokane Complex wildfires were temporarily grounded again Monday night because of civilian drones invading the restricted airspace, according to authorities. On Sunday, there were 26 reported drone incursions in the restricted Spokane fire area, and four drones were “directly in the path of firefighting apparatus” in the air, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said in a news conference aired on local TV station KHQ.

The sheriff’s office has identified and referred multiple drone citations to the Federal Aviation Administration, for a potential $100,000 in criminal penalties each, according to Nowels. About 6 p.m. Monday, fire personnel had to temporarily suspend flights again, according to officials.

The Spokane fires, which started Saturday, have burned at least 10,280 acres and are 0% contained, according to the most recent information available Tuesday morning. More than 60,000 people have been under Level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuation orders, and thousands of residents who evacuated their homes might not be able to return for “weeks.” Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the fires the worst natural disaster the region has faced.