Unauthorized Drones Delay Disaster Response: What Can Be Done?

When disaster strikes, every minute counts. Whether it’s a wildfire racing toward a community or floodwaters engulfing a town, emergency responders depend on aerial assets to assess the situation, coordinate teams, and save lives. Helicopters, firefighting planes, and authorized drones fly low, in tight coordination, often under extreme conditions. One of the most significant and preventable disruptions is the presence of unauthorized drones. While most pilots fly responsibly, a small fraction ignore restrictions, either unknowingly or deliberately. Their actions can ground aircraft, delay rescues, endanger lives, and allow disasters to escalate.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) captures the urgency with a simple phrase: If You Fly, We Can’t. When a drone appears in restricted airspace, all other aircraft must land until the sky is clear. In wildfire or flood emergencies, those lost minutes can mean the difference between containment and catastrophe.

The Challenge: Why Unauthorized Drones Are So Dangerous

Flying a drone near an emergency scene is far more dangerous than it looks. The reasons are straightforward:

• Collision Risk: A drone, even if it is lightweight, can cause severe damage to an aircraft. Pilots of large helicopters or fixed-wing planes often cannot see small drones in time to avoid them.
• Airspace Safety Protocols: Aviation rules require grounding all aircraft when an unauthorized drone is sighted in active response zones.
• Operational Disruption: A forced pause can stop water drops, delay rescues, and interrupt reconnaissance.
• Chain-Reaction Risks: When aerial support stops, ground crews lose critical visibility and protection, increasing danger to firefighters, rescuers, and residents.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and similar regulatory agencies worldwide may issue Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in disaster zones to prevent such conflicts. These rules apply to all aircraft, including hobby and commercial drones, unless directly involved in the operation. Even without an official TFR, flying near a disaster scene is illegal under federal law in the U.S. and in many other countries. Violators can face fines in the tens of thousands of dollars and even jail time.

Real-World Cases: How a Single Drone Can Ground an Entire Response

Unfortunately, these incidents are not hypothetical. They happen regularly with consequences ranging from costly delays to serious collisions.

On July 17, 2025, firefighting operations at the Forsyth Fire in Pine Valley, Utah, were briefly halted after a drone entered restricted airspace. Aircraft providing critical fire suppression support had to be grounded until officials confirmed the air was clear. Firefighters reminded the public that wildfire zones are designated “No Drone Zones,” stressing that unauthorized flights can prevent helicopters and planes from assisting crews in difficult terrain. Despite the disruption, ground teams made progress, but the incident highlighted the risks drones pose during emergency air operations.

A month later, on August 17, 2025, firefighting aircraft battling the Buckley Draw Fire near Provo, Utah, faced repeated interruptions after multiple drones violated the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone. Crews had to halt air operations four separate times, delaying containment efforts as the blaze doubled in size to over 400 acres. Officials issued urgent warnings, reminding drone operators that “if you fly, we can’t,” underscoring how unauthorized flights not only endanger pilots but also jeopardize the effectiveness of wildfire suppression strategies.

On August 18, 2025, emergency response efforts on I-95 near Joppa, Maryland, were complicated when a drone appeared during a helicopter medevac following a serious crash that injured a juvenile. The drone posed a direct safety threat to the medevac aircraft, forcing authorities to issue strong reminders that flying drones near accident scenes violates FAA regulations. Fire and EMS officials emphasized that such behavior delays lifesaving operations, endangers patients, and risks collisions with low-flying helicopters. The incident illustrated how a single reckless drone flight can endanger both emergency responders and civilians in need of urgent care.

The Two Sides of Drones in Disaster Response

It’s important to note that drones themselves are not the problem; their unauthorized use is. In fact, drones help emergency management in positive ways:

• Wildfire Monitoring: Equipped with infrared cameras, drones can detect hotspots and map fire perimeters.
• Search and Rescue: Drones can locate survivors in inaccessible terrain.
• Damage Assessment: Quick aerial surveys guide resource allocation.
• Fire Suppression: Specialized drones can drop water or fire retardant in targeted areas.

What Can Be Done: Reducing Unauthorized Drone Interference

The growing scale and severity of drone incidents call for a proactive, layered defense strategy. Education and regulations are foundational, but they must be paired with field-ready technology that can detect, track, and mitigate rogue drones before they impact operations.

D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir is a prime example. EnforceAir uses radio frequency (RF) cyber-based technology to detect, locate, and safely take control of unauthorized drones without jamming Global Positioning System (GPS) or disrupting other communications. In a wildfire or flood response, this means:

• Early Detection: Identifies drones before they enter restricted airspace.
• Pilot Identification: Locates the ground operator in real time for enforcement.
• Safe Mitigation: Takes control of the drone and guides it to a safe landing, avoiding debris hazards or mid-air collisions.
• Continuity of Operations: Keeps authorized aerial assets in the sky and missions on track.

Unlike kinetic or broad signal-blocking methods, EnforceAir enables safe, surgical intervention without collateral disruption to emergency communications. By combining education, enforcement, and advanced Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) tools like EnforceAir, agencies can protect their responders, safeguard communities, and maintain mission continuity in the face of growing drone activity.