Wildfire Officials Say Drone Interfered with Air Attacks
Source The Associated Press
PLYMOUTH, Calif. (AP) — Fire officials say a private drone trying to record footage of a Northern California wildfire nearly hindered their air assault.
State fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff says the drone was sighted above the fire burning in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento on Sunday, the day after the fire broke out.
The person controlling the unmanned aircraft, whom she did not identify, was trying to get video of the blaze and was told to stop by authorities because of the potential danger to firefighting planes.
The fire — one of two that has forced evacuations in California — has burned through a little under 6 square miles and was 65 percent contained. Some of the roughly 1,200 people under evacuation orders were allowed to return to their homes Monday morning.
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