Helicopter Pilot Tries To Take Out Drone Over Active Wildfire With Bucket Drops. Drone Owner Fined $5K New Court Documents Reveal. Forest Service to cut red tape, Europe opens new wildfire center.
Podcast: The Hotshot Wake UpPublished On: Sun Mar 29 2026
Description: On Today’s Show: To Support and Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/It was revealed in court documents this week that a helicopter pilot tried to take down a hobby drone over a wildfire with bucket drops. The pilot was between drops, protecting homes, when he spotted the drone. The judge in the case fined the drone operator $5K, well below the recommended amount, set forth in the Wildfire Act. The drone pilot argued he didn’t know firefighters and pilots were engaged in the massive inferno. A conversation about the growing issue of hobby drones over wildfires, and the lengths firefighters and pilots are forced to take to mitigate them. Forest Service Chief Schultz sends out a memo declaring an end to red tape and cumbersome mandates, and putting decision-making back in the hands of operators on the ground.Europe launches new wildfire center and is working to expand funding for mitigation, aviation, and training. Huge wildfire aviation conference in Rome. California HOA sues homeowners for $23,000 and tries to foreclose on properties burned down in the Eaton Fire.A full operational update and a rant. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.
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