By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- A civilian drone struck an LAPD helicopter approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday while the aircraft was operating above an active brush fire near the Encino Reservoir in the Los Angeles area.
- The helicopter landed safely at Van Nuys Airport with only minor damage; no injuries were reported among crew members aboard the aircraft.
- An eight-acre brush fire at the Encino Reservoir was caused by downed electrical power lines; firefighters attacked initial spot fires before a second fire ignited when an energized line struck the ground.
- LAFD Chief Jaime Moore described aggressive firefighting operations that achieved full containment by Tuesday evening after crews shifted focus to the secondary fire location.
- Mayor Karen Bass condemned the drone operation as illegal and unacceptable, referencing a previous drone incident during the January 2025 Palisades Fire, and warned that individuals responsible would face arrest and prosecution.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — An unmanned aircraft struck an LAPD helicopter on Tuesday while firefighting operations were underway above an active brush fire near the Encino Reservoir, forcing the police helicopter to land safely with minor damage sustained.
The collision occurred approximately 3 p.m. near the Encino Reservoir during suppression operations on an eight-acre brush fire. The police helicopter successfully diverted to Van Nuez Airport and made an emergency landing without injury to crew members aboard.
The brush fire was ignited by downed electrical power lines in the area. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to initial reports of a 50-by-50-foot spot fire believed caused by downed power lines. Firefighters immediately initiated aggressive suppression efforts against the initial fire.
As firefighting crews were engaged in suppression operations on the first spot fire, a second fire ignited nearby. The secondary fire was caused by an energized electrical line that struck the ground. LAFD personnel immediately shifted firefighting operations to attack the secondary fire.
Chief Jaime Moore described the operational challenge. “Our firefighters immediately did an aggressive attack. They were mopping up that fire when, just up the hillside, another spot fire broke out because of the energized power line that hit the ground there,” Moore stated.
Firefighting crews worked to suppress both fires, eventually achieving full containment by Tuesday evening. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was contacted regarding the downed electrical lines responsible for igniting the fires.
Mayor Karen Bass issued a strong statement condemning the drone operation. “I will say that it is completely unacceptable and illegal to fly drones like this,” Bass stated. “If we find out who you are, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted.”
The mayor referenced a prior drone strike on a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter during the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Bass directly addressed civilians who might consider operating drones near emergency operations.
“So any lookie-loos out there, this is very dangerous to everyone,” the mayor warned.