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Someone flying a drone can seriously hinder firefighting efforts

In just one month, firefighters have shut down aviation resources at three different wildfires because of someone flying a drone.

KUSA — In just one month, firefighters have shut down aviation resources at three different wildfires because of someone flying a drone.

That means critical moments of fighting a fire are lost, according to Steven Hall, the Colorado Bureau of Land Management communications director.

"Just imagine if you do have that small fire and the difference between getting some tanker drops on that fire and that fire taking off is you and a drone," Hall said. "That's a place you don't want to be."

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Hall says just as the Bocco Fire was taking off in Eagle County in June, someone flew a drone, forcing the helicopters and air tankers to land for an hour.

Emergency officials fighting the Golf Course Fire in Grand County and the Spring Fire in Costilla County had similar experiences.

"I get the appeal," Jonathon Hartwick said, while testing a drone at the top of Lookout Mountain.

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But even as the owner of a production company, Hartwick says shooting a wildfire is going too far for the perfect shot.

"Let's say you were responsible for someone's death or just being injured as the result of flying a drone," he said. "How are you going to live with that?"

While there is no set rule for how far a pilot can legally fly a drone from a fire, they are not allowed to interfere with emergency operations.

Colorado lawmakers introduced a bill that would make flying drones over wildfires a felony.

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