A firefighting aircraft struck a drone while operating over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA stated that the aircraft landed safely and that they would be investigating the incident.
According to the FAA, fire officials reported the collision.
The FAA has not authorized any drone flights within the temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) set up to protect the firefighting efforts, unless they are a part of the operation.
Interfering with firefighting efforts on public lands is a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison.
In addition, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 on any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response operations when TFRs are in place.
The FAA stated they treat these violations seriously and will take immediate enforcement action.
The FAA emphasized that flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and can cost lives.
When drones are flown near wildfires, response agencies often ground their aircraft to avoid collisions.
This can delay airborne response, posing threats to firefighters, residents, property, and allowing fires to grow larger.
The FAA has implemented TFRs in the Los Angeles area to protect firefighting aircraft, and prohibits all other aircraft, including drones, from flying in TFRs without authorization.