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Record number of consumer drones are keeping firefighters grounded

Dave Mundwiler, a lead plane pilot, flies a recent mission in the lead wildfire response plane. In the airspace around wildfires, large airtankers, helicopters, water scoopers all share the same airspace. When unknown drones are spotted all of this activity is grounded due to safety reasons. (Forest Service photo by David Mundwiler)

Drones, also referred to as uncrewed aerial systems or UAS, have been increasingly complicating airspace around wildfires since the first consumer models came to market in 2013.

These mechanical critte…