Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources temporarily suspended firefighting operations in northeastern Ontario on Sunday after a drone was spotted in the vicinity. Fire information officer Sydney Morgan-Gervais emphasized the dangers of flying drones, including micro-drones, over wildland fires, as they could potentially collide with firefighting aircraft, posing a significant safety risk to pilots, firefighters, and emergency personnel.
Morgan-Gervais reported that two Canadair CL-415 water bombers were actively combating the 2.8-hectare Cochrane 32 wildfire located west of Kapuskasing. Authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the drone incident.
The frequency of drone-related incidents in Ontario has been on the rise, according to Morgan-Gervais. Federal regulations prohibit non-approved aircraft, including drones, from operating within five nautical miles of a wildfire at altitudes below 3,000 feet.
As of Monday morning, the Cochrane 32 fire was under control, with firefighting efforts ongoing.
