Our society today has many technological tools available to them that even a few years ago were not popular. More and more people are using drones for personal use and this can become a problem in a firefighting situation.
Flying a Drone Near a Wildfire is Breaking the Law
Per the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 9212.1(f), it is illegal to resist or interfere with the efforts of firefighter(s) to extinguish a fire. Doing so can result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance. So, be smart and just don’t fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire. No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences.
* Please, don’t fly your drone near a wildfire! *
North Carolina does not require a state permit to fly a recreational drone in North Carolina, but you must comply with all the FAA regulations above. 1. Make sure drone weighs less than 55 pounds (with equipment attached). If drone weighs more than 55 pounds, refer to FAA aviation requirements for aircraft and pilots.
Federal rules require that fliers of small drones must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, register with the FAA, and mark their drones with the registration numbers. In general, federal rules also limit drones to flying below 400 feet, during the daytime, and at no more than 100 miles per hour.
