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Utah officials warn against illegal drone use over active fires because of the increased risk to firefighting they create.

Drones can halt firefighting efforts for 30 minutes, risking lives and property.

Violators can potentially face fines starting at $10,000.

SALT LAKE CITY — Fighting fires is a dangerous profession and comes with inherent risks, including death.

But when the public does things like illegally fly drones over active fire sites, the risk to firefighters increases, which has prompted authorities to explicitly warn against their use in recent Utah fires. Their use can lead to stoppages in firefighting operations of 30 minutes, a precautionary measure to avoid potential collisions.

"It is incredibly frustrating, both as a

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