Province to clamp down on drones, MLA warns

The provincial government is taking action to combat the public use of drones to get a better look at wildfires, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris said Friday.

Federal regulations prohibit the use of drones of any size near a wildfire and those who are caught face as much as a $25,000 fine and 18 months in jail.

But Morris said amendments to the province's Wildfire Act will be introduced in spring 2016 to strengthen and clarify the provisions that may apply to the craft, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The announcement, made during a media event at Aberdeen Helicopters Ltd. near the Prince George Airport, was triggered by two incidents in August when firefighting aircraft were forced to halt operations due to safety concerns because a drone was being flown in the area.

Most notably, on Aug. 16, eight helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft supporting firefighting crews on the Testalinden Creek fire in the Okanagan were grounded for over four hours while the fire continued to spread.

"Pilots should not have to deal with that," Morris said. "The men and women that are working on the ground and count on that air support should not have to deal with that.

"They're in life and death situations as it is and the possibility that one particular aircraft is prevented from doing something that could risk the life of the men and the women that are on the ground is something that is very serious."

Aberdeen Helicopters owner Pete McGill said a bird, let alone a drone, can pose a hazard for aircraft.

"And a bird is just flesh, it's not something metal that can do even more damage," said McGill, who added he has seen photos of a helicopter after a bird deflected off a rotor blade and went through the windshield "like a cannon ball."

The drone found over the Testalinden fire was about five feet across.

"People have to smarten up and quit running these things around," McGill said.

Under federal aviation regulations, drones, as well as other private aircraft, are prohibited from coming within five nautical miles of the fire and must remain at least 3,000 feet (about 915 metres) above ground level.

Morris, who is the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, was already in the process of reviewing the Wildfire Act when the issue arose.

He also said boaters who venture too close to fire fighting aircraft as they scoop up water from lakes near wildfires also pose a hazard.

"This is extremely dangerous and interferes with the B.C. wildfire service's ability to fight wildfires since an air tanker pilot cannot refill the aircraft's tanks when a boat is in the intended flight path," Morris said.

"In the interests of safety, I am asking every British Columbian to use their common sense and keep their boat well away from areas where air tankers or helicopters are working."

The option of heavy penalties for boaters who interfere is also being considered, Morris said.

Changes to legislation will be followed up with a public awareness campaign aimed at stores where drones are sold. Transport Canada is also reviewing its regulations regarding drones, Morris said.