What is Wildfire TFR?
Wildfire TFRs are temporary flight restrictions issued during active wildfires. Drone flight in a wildfire TFR is a federal felony under 18 USC § 39A — penalties include up to 12 months imprisonment.
Wildfire TFRs are issued under § 91.137 to protect firefighting aircraft (helicopters, air tankers) operating at low altitude in active fire areas. They're the most aggressively enforced TFRs in US airspace because drone interference grounds firefighting operations and directly endangers firefighter lives.
18 USC § 39A makes it a federal felony to interfere with firefighting on federal property. Maximum penalties: 12 months imprisonment, unlimited fine. State law adds civil penalties — California, Arizona, Colorado, and others have specific drone-near-wildfire laws with penalties up to $20,000.
Wildfire TFRs typically activate within hours of fire detection. They cover the active fire perimeter plus margin (often 5+ nautical miles) and reach surface to 12,000 ft AGL. They modify hourly as the fire spreads.
When a drone enters a wildfire TFR, all firefighting aircraft must immediately ground until the drone is removed. Each grounding costs hours of operational time and allows the fire to grow.
What this means for pilots
Never, ever fly in or near an active wildfire. If you see smoke, check the FAA TFR list before flying anywhere within 50 miles. Wildfire TFRs change constantly — verify immediately before flight, not at planning time.
FAQ
How is a wildfire TFR different from a regular TFR?
Issued under § 91.137 (vs § 99.7 for stadium, § 91.141 for VIP). Larger geographic area. More aggressive enforcement. Federal felony for violation under 18 USC § 39A.
Can I fly drones to help spot fires?
No, not without coordination with the incident commander. Volunteer drone work in wildfire areas grounds firefighting and is illegal even with good intentions.
How long do wildfire TFRs last?
Until the fire is contained — sometimes weeks. They modify daily as the fire perimeter changes.
Related terms
FAA regulations change. Verify current rules at faa.gov/uas before relying on this article for flight planning. Altoa is not the FAA.