LOS ANGELES – November 10, 2026 -- Flying a drone near the Southern California wildfires is illegal, and it can stop every firefighting aircraft in the air. Officials are urging residents not to launch drones over the burn areas, and prosecutors say violators will be arrested.
A drone strike sidelined one of two super scoopers
A super scooper plane on contract from Quebec hit a drone while fighting the Palisades Fire. It is one of only two super scoopers available, and officials said it is out of commission until at least Monday while it is repaired.
The pilots did not know they had struck anything until they landed at Van Nuys Airport. Maintenance staff then found a hole the size of a fist, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney.
Maroney said that when a drone is over a fire, all aerial firefighting operations shut down. He called flying in the fire traffic area both dangerous and illegal.
Flight restrictions cover the Palisades and Eaton fires
The FAA has put temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) over both fires to give firefighting aircraft the airspace they need. The restrictions apply to all aircraft, drones included.
The FAA says people can still be arrested and fined without a TFR in place. Interfering with firefighting aircraft is a federal crime whether or not restrictions have been declared.
Prosecutors promise arrests and full penalties
Drone videos of destroyed neighborhoods are circulating on social media. At a Thursday news conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said anyone who flies a drone in a prohibited area, whether for amusement or to capture footage others cannot get, will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Maroney said federal partners are preparing procedures to track drones over the two large fire areas and identify their operators.
Standard FAA drone rules still apply
The FAA prohibits flying drones within five miles of an airport, above 400 feet, or in any way that interferes with manned aircraft. Drones also cannot be flown beyond the operator's unassisted line of sight.
Media crews get no exemption. They need special approval that must directly support a response, relief or recovery activity.
Tim Sarquis, an executive producer at ABC Owned TV Stations and a licensed drone pilot, said rule-breaking pilots make flying harder for legitimate operators. When they break the rules, he said, "it hurts everyone," and that can lead to more restrictions or outright bans in some areas.
The risk is not new. In 2019, a KABC helicopter made a precautionary landing after a drone hit it over downtown Los Angeles.