Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) has introduced bipartisan legislation improving safety measures in aerial firefighting.
The bill explicitly addresses unauthorized drones interfering with aerial firefighting efforts on federal land, a mounting concern in recent months, by requiring the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study of incidents and their impact.
From there, the study must make recommendations on counter-drone tech, infrastructure, and a public education campaign to highlight the danger posed by unauthorized drones in aerial firefighting.
"I'm proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the growing issue of drones interfering with aerial fire suppression efforts," Rep. Crane said in a statement. "Arizona is prone to devastating wildfires, and it's imperative that we minimize obstruction and delays." He urged his colleagues to support the effort, explaining that the bill allows Congress to "have the necessary information to craft policies that help our firefighters combat wildfires before they get out of control."
Over the summer, Rep. Crane emphasized the danger of unauthorized drones in open-air stadiums, saying during a House Homeland Security hearing that "the one thing that is keeping me up at night is the one that we keep talking about here, and that is as warfare continues to evolve, the drone threat — and I just do not think that we are ready. I have sat in on a bunch of these hearings. I have had classified hearings with some of our federal agencies, and what I can tell you is that we are not ready."
In March, Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), one of the new bill's cosponsors, raised alarms over the Mexican drug cartels's use of drones at the border, saying, "During our time at the border, we heard firsthand from commanders and supervisors on the ground regarding their concern to be able to conduct C-UAS operations should the cartels attempt a drone attack on U.S. service members or federal law enforcement."
