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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a plane was damaged by a drone on Thursday while fighting the deadly Fire of palisades in Los Angeles.
“Fire officials notified the FAA that a firefighting aircraft struck a drone while operating over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 9,” the agency said in a statement.
“The plane landed safely. The FAA will investigate,” the agency added.
Officials have implemented various temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in the area and have warned citizens of the danger that aircraft can pose while circulating forest fires.
The FAA said unauthorized aerial activity during a wildfire emergency will warrant criminal charges that can result in up to 12 months in prison for interfering with firefighting efforts on public lands.
The agency can also impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when TFR is present.
The news comes as at least 10 people have died and more than 10,000 homes and other structures have burned as a result of two of the largest wildfires. Officials are asking more people to heed evacuation orders. More than 180,000 people have been alerted.
Flame damage could ascend between $52 billion and $57 billion, according to a recent analysis by AccuWeather’s Global Weather Center. The number includes direct and indirect impacts from fires, as well as insured and uninsured losses.