Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Firefighters Combat Wildfires

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05)and Congressmen Eli Crane (AZ-02), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the bipartisan Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act to support wildfire response operations by addressing the impact of unauthorized drones flying in restricted airspace during a wildfire.

When an unauthorized drone enters restricted airspace during a wildfire, fire response agencies are often required to ground their aircraft to avoid the risk of a collision. In Oregon, and across the country, there have been several instances of this happening, including during the Flat Fires in 2025, which caused delays to wildfire response efforts.

The bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study on the impact of drone incursions on wildfire suppression and explore available techniques to address unauthorized drone activity.

"Earlier this year, a drone delayed the aerial fire response to the Flat Fire in Central Oregon," said Rep. Bynum. "We know all too well that wildfires are challenging enough to get controlled without any additional obstacles. The last thing we need is recreational drones getting in the way of our firefighters' critical work to save lives and property. That's why I'm introducing this bipartisan bill to ensure fire crews can do their work without interference."

"I'm proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the growing issue of drones interfering with aerial fire suppression efforts. Arizona is prone to devastating wildfires, and it's imperative that we minimize obstruction and delays," said Rep. Crane. "With our bill, Congress would have the necessary information to craft policies that help our firefighters combat wildfires before they get out of control. I urge my colleagues to support our approach."

"Fires in Colorado and across the West now rage year-round, growing both in duration and intensity, which is why our bill, the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, is so necessary," said Rep. Neguse. "This bill ensures our firefighters can protect communities and operate without unnecessary risks from unauthorized drones. It is a common-sense proposal that if enacted will bolster worker and public safety."

"Unauthorized drones are putting lives at risk and hampering wildfire response efforts across the West - including right here in Arizona," said Rep. Ciscomani. "I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to build on the 2020 study and examine real, on-the-ground tools that first responders can use to neutralize these incursions. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, we must give our crews every possible advantage to protect our communities and keep response operations safe and effective."

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), which is responsible for wildland fire protection across more than 16 million acres in Oregon, submitted the following statement about the growing and urgent threat posed by unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations within active wildfire airspace:

"Unauthorized UAS flights near wildfires create an immediate and serious safety hazard. When a UAS enters the airspace, our firefighting aircraft are forced to disengage, pilots lose the ability to operate safely, and ground crews lose vital aerial support at the most critical moments of suppression. These interruptions give fires time to grow and place firefighters, pilots, and nearby communities at increased risk. This is a real and recurring operational threat we now face on active incidents," said Sarah Prout, ODF UAS Program Lead.

You can find a one-pager on the bill here and the full text of it here.

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