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Keep Drones Away From Wildfires, Officials Warn

The Nevada Division of Forestry is cautioning owners of drones not to fly them over wildfires because they could be safety hazards.

There have been recent incidents around the country, including the recent Cajon Pass fire in California, where drones have interfered with aircraft battling wildfires, the division said in a news release today.

They noted that drones could pose a major risk to pilots, ground personnel and aircraft.

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And, there could be civil and criminal penalties.  Temporary flight restrictions are often put in place near fires, and violations of Federal Aviation Administration rules carry fines up to $25,000.

Jay Bartos joined Nevada Public Radio in 1993 to develop and manage the state’s first radio reading service for people unable to use standard printed material due to blindness or another disability. After the reading service was discontinued in 2011, he became the afternoon host on KNPR for ten years. Jay can now be heard on air on News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7 KCNV throughout the week.