Hobby Drone 'Limited' LAFD's Ability To Fight Spot Fire Off 134 Freeway

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Police detained a man suspected of operating a drone near a grass fire that started off the Ventura (134) Freeway in the Eagle Rock area Wednesday, authorities said.

The roughly one-quarter acre fire was first reported shortly before 11 a.m. in the 7500 block of Figueroa Street south of the 134 Freeway, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson said.

Crews eventually extinguished the flames within about 40 minutes. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged.

Police later said they found the drone and were questioning a person for allegedly flying it near the fire scene.

The man detained for questioning was later revealed to be a Good Samaritan who located the drone, according to KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta.

Officials warned aerial crews initially reported spotting a drone flying in the area and that the drone's presence "may hamper [their] ability to fight fire."

Once the fire was out, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey urged people to fly drones only in appropriate places.

"Though no helicopter water drops proved necessary, the presence of a hobby drone restricted the option of LAFD to use helicopters for fire attack, and limited their abilities for command support", Humphrey said. "This hobby drone issue is being looked into by LAPD."

There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire, which caused the California Highway Patrol to close three eastbound freeway lanes as a precaution.

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