Prescott area Congressman Eli Crane of Arizona teamed up with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act of 2025. The bill aims to improve safety during aerial firefighting operations by addressing the growing threat of unauthorized drones near wildfires.
The legislation directs the Federal Aviation Administration to study how drone incursions impact firefighting efforts on federal lands. The FAA would work in consultation with the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture on the matter.
The study would gather data on the number of drone incidents, resulting delays, additional costs, and potential countermeasures — including drone-defense technology and public education.