drones pose new risks for firefighters battling california wildfires

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Drones pose new risks for firefighters battling California wildfires TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. -- Dozens involving wildfires are generally burning within the West once more Tuesday. Inside Northern California, the actual "Jerusalem fire" a lot much more than doubled in size to end up being able to 12,000 acres overnight before merging along with yet another fire. Also greater than doubling, your number of encounters in between firefighting aircraft and also drones. That happened 13 times this coming year in comparison in order to 4 final year. As photographer Jeff Hall guided his drone into the air within Northern California, he captured images in the large plume involving smoke rising from a expanding wildfire. As dangerous as wildfires could be, drone pilots happen to be able to be drawn for you to them. From least 13 occasions this season firefighters possess reported seeing drones flying near significant fires. For pilots regarding firefighting aircraft, drones possess turn out to always be able to be another hazard inside an already risky business. Envision suddenly traversing for you to a drone heading straight at the helicopter. Pilot Jason Thrasher had a close to miss having a drone on the fire last year. He says even though the drone is merely a few pounds, plus a helicopter is much bigger, it may even now do harm.

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Drones pose new risks for firefighters battling Californiawildfires

TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. -- Dozens involving wildfires are generally burning within the West oncemore Tuesday. Inside Northern California, the actual "Jerusalem fire" a lot much more than doubledin size to end up being able to 12,000 acres overnight before merging along with yet another fire.

Also greater than doubling, your number of encounters in between firefighting aircraft and alsodrones. That happened 13 times this coming year in comparison in order to 4 final year.

As photographer Jeff Hall guided his drone into the air within Northern California, he capturedimages in the large plume involving smoke rising from a expanding wildfire.

As dangerous as wildfires could be, drone pilots happen to be able to be drawn for you to them.From least 13 occasions this season firefighters possess reported seeing drones flying nearsignificant fires.

For pilots regarding firefighting aircraft, drones possess turn out to always be able to be anotherhazard inside an already risky business. Envision suddenly traversing for you to a drone headingstraight at the helicopter.

Pilot Jason Thrasher had a close to miss having a drone on the fire last year. He says even thoughthe drone is merely a few pounds, plus a helicopter is much bigger, it may even now do harm.

CBS News

"If the drone that way were to go into a tail rotor or a major rotor system, it could have gotcatastrophic consequences," he said.

California Fire has launched any campaign urging drone pilots to always be able to remain away.and you may find developing demands with regard to drone regulations. NASA drone forum iscreating an Air traffic Manage system for any day when drones are generally as popular as cars.

"There could possibly be any future where every house could possess a drone and each home couldserve as airport," said NASA Scientist Parimal Kopardekar.

Sean Suitter's business Micro Avionics provides developed technology which could help to makeeach as well as every drone identifiable.

"You would realize miles in advance that it had been approaching," said Suitter. "And who itbelonged to."

For now, drones run largely with out controls, but firefighters in upstate new York located a way to

tell the drone pilot he wasn't welcomed through spraying drinking water in his drone.

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