If you can fly, CFA cannot

Managing fire incidents is only one of the Country Fire Authority’s priorities this year, with group members also on the look out for drones.

The small unmanned aerial vehicles, controlled by a person on the ground, have increased in popularity across the past years.

And while CFA District 17 operations manager Craig Brittain said the majority of drone operators fly safely, there was an increased risk of interference with emergency services.

He said it was important that users avoid flying drones in areas or situations that could affect firefighting operations.

“While it might be tempting to record footage, you can pose a major safety risk to firefighting personnel in the air and on the ground,” he said.

“If there is a drone operating near a fire it has the potential to ground our airborne fleet and affect firefighting operations.”

Mr Brittain said most residents were aware that they needed to give way to emergency vehicles on the road, but there seemed to be uncertainty about requirements in the air.

“You wouldn’t block the road for a fire truck, so you should not get in the way of our air operations either,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny little drone or a larger one; it still has potential to interrupt vital firefighting efforts.

“On the ground firefighters depend on aerial support to help suppress and contain fires.

“By flying your drone, you are not only putting their lives in danger, but also the lives of the people and the property they’re trying to protect.”

Mr Brittain said because drones could be difficult to spot from the air, CFA was also calling on community members to help monitor any issues that occur during incidents.

“If you witness a drone being flown unsafely within close proximity to a fire, do not hesitate to report the issue to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,” he said.