Why Sky Commander pilots fly safe near wildfires — and how you can too.
Zombie fires. Record heat. 200+ active wildfires.
As we write this, nearly 1 million hectares of land is burning across Canada. In BC, 49 underground zombie fires from last season are reigniting as temperatures spike. Whole communities are on alert, air quality is dropping across North America — and drone pilots are seeing the headlines and thinking: should I go fly?
Answer: Not unless you’re authorized, trained, and part of a coordinated wildfire mission.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
👉 This year’s fire season started early.
👉 Fires are burning hotter, faster, and longer.
👉 Unauthorized drone flights can ground firefighting aircraft — putting lives and homes at risk.
Just this week:
- U.S. air quality hit as 205 wildfires burn across Canada
- Canada hit by rise in ‘zombie fires’ that can survive the winter
- Data capturing hot spots and burned acres show Canada wildfire season off to wild start
Wingmen Fly Smart — Or Don’t Fly At All
At Sky Commander, teamwork is everything — especially near wildfire zones.
If You DON’T Have a Mission:
🚫 Do not fly anywhere near a wildfire.
🚫 Do not chase footage for your channel.
🚫 Do not assume you’re “helping” unless you’re fully cleared.
It’s illegal — and it could cause the entire aerial firefighting effort to be grounded.
If You DO Have a Mission:
✅ Get your SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate) or other required authorizations.
✅ Coordinate with the Incident Command team and airspace managers.
✅ Conduct a full mission brief with your crew — know your airspace, deconfliction zones, hazards.
✅ Fly as part of an integrated response — with spotters and comms active.
✅ Debrief and share lessons — help the whole RPAS community improve.
Real-World Tip:
Post your mission prep: sharing your team’s professional workflow not only makes your content stand out — it teaches others what right looks like.
How You Can Help Lead The Way
👉 Don’t fly rogue.
👉 Educate fellow pilots.
👉 Join the community of pro pilots working to build Canada’s safest airspace.
👉 Support your firefighting crews by staying out of unauthorized airspace.
Want to Level Up?
🎧 S2E19 Bonus 1 – Drone Operations Near Wildfires
🎧 S2E21 – RPAS Air Law & Mission Planning
Start with these Sky Commander Academy episodes — they’ll make you a smarter, safer, more professional pilot.
Final Call: Be a Wingman, Not a Risk
🔥 Wildfire season is here, and it’s one of the worst on record.
🚁 This is when our training, discipline, and teamwork matter most.
If you believe in the Wingman Code — fly smart, fly safe, fly as a team — then join us:
✅ Follow Sky Commander on LinkedIn
✅ Subscribe to the Sky Commander Academy Podcast
✅ Share this post and tag #WingmanWednesday — help us get this message out.
This week, let’s show Canada that professional RPAS pilots lead by example.
Fly it smart — or don’t fly at all.
Sky Commander – Drone Inspections & Aerial Intelligence 
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