Wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles, with over 179,000 people forced to evacuate and the death toll climbing to 10. Strong winds and widespread power outages are complicating firefighting efforts, while hazardous air quality is putting additional strain on the community. Amid these challenges, a firefighting plane has been struck by an illegal drone, further hindering efforts to contain the flames.
BY PC Bureau
A firefighting plane battling the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles was struck by an illegal drone while attempting to douse the flames. The Canada ‘Super Scooper,’ known for its ability to lift up to 1,500 gallons of seawater to extinguish fires, collided with the drone flying in restricted airspace. Since the fires began earlier this week, more than 10,000 homes and structures have been destroyed, and the cause of the largest blazes remains unknown.
The incident has hampered firefighting efforts, as the plane, Quebec 1, sustained wing damage and is now grounded. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott confirmed that the aircraft was forced out of service due to the collision.
🇺🇸 As LA Fire Hydrants stopped working this brave pilot took matters into his own hands, landed on the sea, refilled his plane with water & reengaged with the fires.
What an absolute Legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/IoUEebwozZ
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) January 9, 2025
The FAA is investigating the situation, and authorities have reminded the public that flying drones during firefighting efforts is a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison or fines of up to $75,000.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Watch an impressive water drop on the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills last night, showcasing precise aerial efforts to combat the blaze. <a href=”https://t.co/UOUN4V6bAT”>pic.twitter.com/UOUN4V6bAT</a></p>— TheWrap (@TheWrap) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TheWrap/status/1877395840152617196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
The collision is one of two similar aircraft being used to fight the fires. An image of Quebec 1 reveals a hole in one of its wings. As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, claiming 10 lives and forcing 179,000 people to evacuate, first responders are working tirelessly to control the flames despite strong winds.
Meanwhile, power outages and hazardous air quality are compounding the challenges, with health officials urging residents to take precautions and wear masks due to the dangerous smoke levels.
