They have been seen flying around prescribed burns and could hurt firefighting efforts, the DEP says.
New Jersey has a message for drone pilots: Stay away from forest fires.
The state Department of Environmental Protection issued the warning Wednesday, saying anyone who violates the rule could face civil or criminal penalties.
Unmanned aerial vehicles could impede firefighting efforts in the airspace around a wildfire, according the the DEP. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)The spring is peak wildfire season, and aircraft such as helicopters are often used to fight the blazes, the department's release said. Unmanned aerial vehicles in the area can be a hazard and interfere with firefighting efforts, according to state officials.
"While drone owners may not realize the potential danger, the presence of these types of equipment during forest fires hampers our overall ability to protect life and property in our wooded areas," state Fire Warden Bill Edwards said in a news release.
Drones have been spotted over New Jersey fires over the last year, the department said. In one instance, a low-flying drone above a prescribed burn near a Mercer County airport interfered around the burn and with aircraft approaching the airport.
Flying drones over state and national parks is already prohibited, and the Federal Aviation Administration often will impose a temporary flight restriction around wildfires.
Anyone who sees a drone over a wildfire is asked to call the DEP at 1-877-927-6337 or contact the local police or fire department.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.