A BC Wildfire Service birddog is seen in this file photo (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service/YouTube)

By Canadian Press

Drone Hit Plane

BC Wildfire Service says civilian drone hit firefighting plane in the Cariboo

Sep 4, 2025 | 5:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Wildfire Service says police are investigating after one of its firefighting aircraft was struck by a civilian drone that was being illegally flown in restricted airspace.

It says the incident on Tuesday evening involved a bird dog plane that directs airtankers and other aircraft, and occurred during operations against a blaze in the Cariboo Fire Centre.

Fire information officer Amanda Graves says the strike caused minor damage to one of the wings of the bird dog, which was repaired and back in service the next morning.

She says no one was hurt and RCMP are investigating.

The service says on social media that such interference with its aerial operations “poses significant risk” and anyone found flying drones in restricted areas faces penalties of up to $100,000 and up to one year in jail.

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 4, 2025

9h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

Dec 03, 2025

Question of the Week

Will the amount of money you spend on Christmas be more or less than last year?

Dec 01, 2025

It says unauthorized drones, including the smallest models weighing less than 250 grams, are banned within five nautical miles, or 9.3 kilometres, and 3,000 feet above active wildfires.

About 150 fires are burning across B.C., including about 35 in the Cariboo Fire Centre in the province’s central Interior. Another nine fires are burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre, including the 19-square kilometre Mine Creek fire, which has forced the closure of the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt.