Arkansas Forestry Division Asks the Public to not fly Drones over Wildfires

The Arkansas Departments of Agriculture's Forestry Division is asking for the public's help in keeping the sky free of drone traffic during a wildfire.

In a press release issued Thursday, officials ask that individuals refrain from using the drones as those take up the airspace around the fire that officials need to fly their drones for fire assessment and single engine planes to help battle the blazes. 

This announcement comes as much of the state, including most counties in northwest Arkansas, have burn bans in place due to the continued hot and dry weather. In addition, Boone, Carroll, Madison, and Newton Counties are among several in northwest Arkansas listed as a High Wildfire Danger with the rest of the state currently at a Moderate Wildfire Danger.