One Of Just Two CL-415 Super Scooper Planes Taken Out Of Palisades Fire Fight By Drone

Los Angeles: So, there was this crazy incident where a drone crashed into a firefighting plane battling the Palisades fire. It happened around 10 a.m., and it really threw a wrench in things. Cal Fire said that this collision grounded all aircraft involved in the firefighting efforts.

One of the planes involved was a Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper, which is pretty special. It can scoop up 1,600 gallons of water from the ocean and drop it on the flames. But now, with that plane out of commission, the crews are feeling the heat—literally.

With the Super Scooper down, the firefighters are losing a major asset. They usually make tons of flights each day, dropping water on the fire. But now, they can’t do that until the plane gets fixed. And with the fire raging, every minute counts.

Cal Fire’s spokesman, Chris Thomas, mentioned how dangerous this situation is. When they ground all aircraft, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour to get back in the air. And in that time, the fire can spread like crazy.

To make matters worse, the drone was flying in a restricted area. The FAA had set up a Temporary Flight Restriction to keep drones and other aircraft from interfering with firefighting. Apparently, the drone pilot was just trying to get some video footage of the flames, which is a big no-no.

The FAA is serious about this stuff. They said it’s a federal crime to mess with firefighting efforts, and the penalties can be steep. So, it’s a reminder for everyone to keep their drones at home, especially during such a critical time.

As the winds calm down, the air attack is ramping up again. But without that Super Scooper, the firefighters are at a disadvantage. It’s a tough situation, and we really need to support those putting their lives on the line to fight these fires.