Drones flying over wildfires have grounded helicopters and are severly impacting firefighters' ability to do their jobs.
As crews battle three devastating wildfires, CAL FIRE officials say they've seen a record number of drones in restricted airspace.
"Every time one is spotted it stops work for the helicopters at least about an hour until we can locate, make sure the air is clear. Really cuts into the firefight," Doug Ross, CAL FIRE aviation officer said.
In the Line Fire, which has so far consumed more than 39,000 acres in the San Bernardino Mountains, officials say that they've had to ground firefighting aircraft on several occasions because of people flying drones into the sky above the blaze, according to KCAL.
At one point, drones grounded all of their aircraft at an extremely crucial moment, which nearly allowed the flames to continue into Big Bear.
"Please let our firefighters do their job and fly their aircraft without flying your drones in the area," said San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Carrie Kloss.
