Kelowna man penalized $5,000 for flying drone in active fire zone | CBC News
A Kelowna, B.C., man who flew a drone from a boat on Okanagan Lake during the McDougall Creek wildfire in 2023 has been ordered to pay a penalty of $5,000.
Judge rejected pilot Derek Leippi’s claim he was unaware of active fire zone
Listen to this article
Estimated 1 minute
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A Kelowna, B.C., man will have to pay a $5,000 penalty for flying a drone near an active wildfire.
Derek Leippi was found guilty of flying a drone from his boat on Okanagan Lake near a helicopter fighting the McDougall Creek wildfire in 2023.
The helicopter pilot testified the drone took his focus away from firefighting efforts.
Leippi said he was not aware firefighting efforts were underway.
But the judge in the case ruled any reasonable person would know homes and businesses were being evacuated and buildings in flames while the drone was being flown.
The maximum penalty for interfering with fire control under the Wildfire Act is $100,000 and up to one year in jail.
Leippi was found guilty of violating the Wildfire Act in Kelowna Provincial Court in February.