Drone pilots asked to keep unmanned aerial vehicles away from crews battling B.C. forest fires

The RCMP has joined the Oliver Fire Department in kindly asking spectators to stop flying drones in the proximity of emergency responders battling a blaze north of Osoyoos.

On August 16, no less than eight helicopters plus a larger tanker aircraft were forced to suspend operations, according to the Vancouver Sun.

That was in response to crews spotting a small unmanned aerial vehicle flying near the area where they were battling an uncontained wildfire that was burning along the Testalinden Creek.

It was five hours before firefighters could resume air-support operations.

RCMP officers conducted a search for the drone and its operator but came up empty handed.