Drones and Wildfires in Canada: Rules, Mapping and Monitoring

No. Unless you are flying for the fire response, it is illegal to fly a drone over a wildfire in Canada, or within 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) of one below 3,000 feet above ground level. The rule is in section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, and it applies whether or not a NOTAM has been issued for the fire.

This guide covers that rule and how to check for fires before you fly, then how wildfire agencies, forestry companies and environmental consultants use drones in remote country.

The Wildfire Rule Every Drone Pilot Must Know

Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations says no person may operate an aircraft:

• over a forest fire area, or any area within 5 nautical miles of one, below 3,000 feet AGL, or
• in any airspace described in a forest fire NOTAM issued under section 601.16.

A drone is an aircraft under the regulations, and drones normally stay below 400 feet. In practice, the rule means no drone within 9.3 km of a wildfire.

The first part needs no NOTAM: it applies around every forest fire the moment it exists. A NOTAM can close more airspace where firefighting aircraft are working.

Who is allowed to fly near a fire

Section 601.17 lists the only exceptions.

Who	Can they fly near the fire?	Rule
Recreational and commercial pilots not involved in the response	No	CAR 601.15
Media, landowners and “just checking” flights	No	CAR 601.15
Pilots flying at the request of, or with the authorization of, the fire control authority	Yes, to assist its operations	CAR 601.17(1)(a)
Operators with a written authorization from the Minister of Transport	Yes, under its conditions	CAR 601.17(1)(b)

The Minister’s authorization is for flights needed for public safety or to support an aerodrome in or next to the fire area. An Advanced certificate, or a NAV CANADA authorization for controlled airspace, does not exempt you.

Why it matters

Air tankers and helicopters work low and in smoke, where a small drone is very hard to see. When a drone is spotted near a wildfire, crews must ground their operations, which Transport Canada says puts lives at risk.

Transport Canada’s July 2026 reminder on drones and wildfires lists administrative monetary penalties of up to $3,000 for individuals and $15,000 for corporations, and provinces and territories can add their own. If you see a drone that is an immediate threat to aviation or public safety, call 9-1-1.

Its guidance on where to fly your drone also bars flights inside the security perimeter of a police or first responder emergency operation, and tells pilots to avoid sites near disasters such as wildfires and floods.

How to Check for Wildfires Before You Fly

From spring to fall, a wildfire check belongs in every preflight routine, next to airspace and weather.

1. Look at the horizon. A new fire can burn for hours before it appears on any map. If you can see a smoke column, do not launch until you know where the fire is.
2. Check NOTAMs for your exact site. A forest fire NOTAM can close additional airspace around a fire. Check through NAV CANADA or NAV Drone. Our guide to decoding NOTAMs explains the format; times are in UTC.
3. Check a wildfire map. The free Airspace Explorer shows active wildfire zones from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System alongside controlled airspace, restricted and advisory Class F airspace, and aerodromes from official NAV CANADA data. If your site is anywhere close to 9.3 km from a fire, do not fly.
4. Check your provincial or territorial wildfire service. Each publishes active fires, fire bans and evacuation orders, often fastest for a fire that started today.

Two cautions. Map layers refresh on a schedule, so a fire detected this morning may not be drawn yet. And fires move: a perimeter 12 km away at breakfast can be inside 9.3 km by mid-afternoon. The rule follows the fire, not the map.

In the full RPAS WILCO platform, the Active Wildfires layer sits on the same map as restriction NOTAMs and airspace. The mobile app’s readiness badge reflects licence and airspace rules only, not wildfires or NOTAMs, so check those layers yourself. Our guide to every layer on the RPAS WILCO map explains each one.

How Wildfire Agencies and Contractors Use Drones

Drones do not replace air tankers or helicopters, but they give fire crews an aerial view at low cost without tying up a crewed aircraft. All of this work happens at the request of, or with the authorization of, the fire control authority, in coordination with the aircraft on the fire.

• Perimeter mapping. Mapping flights give incident command a current picture of the fire edge to plan control lines and track growth.
• Thermal hotspot detection. Thermal cameras show heat the eye cannot see, including smouldering hot spots in roots and ground cover. This is valuable during mop-up near control lines.
• Night operations. Where the fire authority authorizes it, thermal flights can continue after dark. Night flight requires lights that keep the drone visible to the pilot or visual observer (CAR 901.39).
• Live situational awareness. A live video feed lets incident command and specialists see what the drone crew sees, wherever they are.
• Post-fire assessment. Drones map burn severity, damaged structures, hazard trees along roads and power lines, and erosion risk on burned slopes.

For forestry companies and utilities, this post-fire work can run for months.

Environmental Monitoring Beyond Fire

Mapping, thermal imaging and live video from remote sites carry over to most environmental fieldwork:

• Floods. Mapping flood extent, ice jams and damaged roads and culverts. Stay out of emergency perimeters unless you work for the response.
• Spills. Documenting a spill on land or water and tracking cleanup over time.
• Shorelines and riverbanks. Repeat surveys to measure erosion after storms and high water.
• Wildlife surveys. Counting and observing wildlife where permits allow it. Many species and sites come with distance rules, so check with the responsible agency first.
• Vegetation and habitat. Multispectral surveys of forest health, invasive species and post-fire regeneration.

National parks have their own rules on drone use, so ask the park before you plan a flight there.

Operating in Remote Areas

Remote fieldwork is where drone operations get hard. Plan for:

• No connectivity. Download maps, site information and checklists before you leave coverage, and decide how flights will be logged without cell service.
• Cold, heat and smoke. Batteries lose capacity in the cold (see our guide to winter drone operations), and a fire’s heat creates updrafts and turbulence. If smoke hides the drone from you and your visual observer, you are no longer flying within visual line of sight.
• Radio. Agree on a radio plan with the fire authority or site lead before launch, including how you will be told to land when aircraft arrive.
• Other aircraft. Floatplanes, helicopters and medevac flights all use low altitudes in the backcountry.
• Distance. Since the Phase 2 rules came into force on November 4, 2025, lower-risk BVLOS over sparsely populated areas can fall under Level 1 Complex operations: a Level 1 Complex pilot certificate, an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC) and a drone with the right safety assurance declaration. Anything beyond that still needs a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).

Note that a fire authority’s authorization exempts you from the forest fire restriction only. The rest of the drone rules still apply.

Where RPAS WILCO Fits

RPAS WILCO does not fly drones or fight fires. It gives pilots and teams the tools around the flight.

• Before the flight. The free Airspace Explorer gives a quick check of airspace, aerodromes and wildfire zones. RPAS WILCO adds flight planning, site surveys and NOTAM checks, built on official NAV CANADA data that RPAS WILCO is authorized to distribute.
• During the flight. When the crew has a data connection, RPAS WILCO Fly streams live drone video to the team, so specialists far away can see fire lines, floods or spills as the crew flies. Crews coordinate in the same Android app.
• After the flight. Flights are logged automatically. At remote sites without a connection, they are logged offline on the device and sync to RPAS WILCO later, so records stay complete and audit-ready. Flight data is stored in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fly my drone near a wildfire in Canada?

No, unless you are flying for the fire response. Section 601.15 prohibits flying over a forest fire area, or within 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) of one, below 3,000 feet AGL.

Does the rule apply if there is no NOTAM?

Yes. The 5 nautical mile restriction applies around every forest fire on its own. A NOTAM can close additional airspace.

Can I fly over my own property if a fire is nearby?

No. Owning the land creates no exception. Within 9.3 km of a fire, keep the drone on the ground.

How do I check for wildfires near my flight site?

Check NOTAMs, a wildfire map such as the free Airspace Explorer, and your provincial or territorial wildfire service. If you see smoke nearby, do not launch until you know where the fire is.

How can a drone team support a wildfire response?

Contact the agency responsible for the fire first. Fly only at its request or with its authorization, and follow its direction and radio plan on site.