On January 9, an amphibious Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper, aiding firefighting efforts around Los Angeles, collided with a drone that violated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace restrictions. The incident highlights the importance of drone pilots being aware of other aviators, especially first responders.
The FAA provides resources to check for airspace restrictions. Their temporary flight restriction website lists multiple temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) around wildfires. Airspace Link is also recommended by the FAA.
The presence of TFRs allows aerial firefighting aircraft to perform their missions in clear airspace. Currently, six aerial firefighting aircraft are involved in the efforts, with more expected as the US Navy joins.