Playing chicken with water bombers a game for fools

“While it may be really fun to play chicken or race us,” he posted, “it makes it that much harder dodging boats.”

No kidding.

When the East Shuswap Road grass fire was out of control and being attacked by several aircraft, word quickly spread that boaters should stay off Paul Lake where they were refilling. Boaters got the message and stayed clear.

That’s how it should be done. Anybody who interferes with firefighting aircraft puts the lives of the pilots and others at risk, not to mention millions of dollars worth of equipment.

The law says anyone who impedes firefighting efforts can be fined up to $100,000 and thrown in jail for a year. Instead of being politely asked to stop, the asshats getting in the way of the pilots should be met by an RCMP boat, arrested and hauled off to court.

That would have the desired effect.

But they aren’t the only ones causing trouble. Somebody flew a drone into a fire zone near Naskusp last weekend, grounding a helicopter and causing other aircraft to divert.

After a similar incident grounded helicopters during the Testalinden wildfire in the South Okanagan three years ago, fines and jail time were legislated for dangerous drone use, too.

In case drone owners have forgotten, they can’t fly their precious toys within five nautical miles of a wildfire.

Without the courage and skill of those who fly against the wildfires, many more homes and lives would be lost. Anyone who gets in their way should feel the full force of the law.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

“Stupid” is an over-used word these days but playing chicken with firefighting aircraft fits the definition.

Skimmers are aircraft that swoop on to lakes, scoop up water on the go and return to a wildfire to drop it on the flames. A pilot of one of these planes fighting fires in the Okanagan has issued a polite request to yahoos to stop playing chicken or racing them as they reload.