LONG WEEKEND REMINDER: Don't fly a drone into a wildfire
Digital Reporter
Thursday, August 2, 2018, 3:44 PM - Drones often come out during a long weekend -- but if you're anywhere near the wildfires burning in BC and Ontario, authorities say you'll need to keep them grounded.
Last month, a helicopter that was supporting firefighters in B.C. was forced to land after an unauthorized drone was spotted flying near a fire.
In addition to the grounded aircraft, other fire-fighting planes had to be diverted away from the area.
It's illegal to operate a drone below a height of 914 metres inside a 9 km radius of a fire. Fines can reach as high as $25,000 and result in up to 18 months of jail time.
B.C.'s Wildfire act prohibits drone use and can issue fines up to $100,000 and jail time.
BC, ONTARIO WILDFIRES STILL BURNING
Recent lightning strikes have exacerbated an already-dire situation in B.C., with the Placer Mountain fire scorching more than 1,500 hectares.
Nearly 500 properties remain on evacuation alert in Keremeos and Cawston areas.
Meanwhile, a fire burning in Parry Sound, Ontario has proven to be bigger than originally thought. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry remapped the fire at over 11,000, about 1,000 hectares larger than the initial estimate.
No significant precipitation is expected in the region through the long weekend, with temperatures expected to climb into the low 30s on Saturday and humidex values inching toward 40 by Sunday.
