B.C. Realtor Fined $5,000 for Drone Flight During 2023 Okanagan Wildfire
A Kelowna realtor has been fined $5,000 after being found guilty of interfering with fire control operations for flying his drone over Okanagan Lake during the devastating August 2023 wildfire. Derek Lieppi, who was convicted last month, received his sentence in Kelowna provincial court on Monday.
Court Proceedings and Potential Penalties
Lieppi had been facing significantly more severe consequences for his actions. Under British Columbia's wildfire legislation, he could have been fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to up to one year in jail. Additionally, he potentially could have been held responsible for all fire suppression and related costs, which could have amounted to millions of dollars in damages.
The Crown prosecutor had been seeking a substantially higher penalty of $15,000 for the offense. However, the court ultimately imposed the $5,000 fine following consideration of the circumstances and Lieppi's cooperation with authorities.
The Incident During the McDougall Creek Wildfire
During the height of the McDougall Creek wildfire, which destroyed more than 300 structures on the west side of Okanagan Lake, Lieppi took his boat onto the water and launched a DJI drone. His intention was to capture video footage of the Okanagan Lake Resort, which had been completely razed by the blaze.
At the time, approximately 35,000 people were under evacuation orders in the area. Two Conservation Service Officers were patrolling the lake to prevent unauthorized access to the shoreline when they noticed Lieppi in a zone where helicopters were actively conducting water-bucket operations to combat the fire.
Interference with Firefighting Operations
The officers initially asked Lieppi to leave the area, which he complied with. However, he continued to fly his drone at a low altitude, apparently attempting to avoid disturbing the helicopters. The officers did not immediately notice this continued drone operation.
Helicopter pilot Brett Mayden, however, did spot the drone during his firefighting efforts. Mayden became "irritated" by the presence of the unauthorized aircraft and twice attempted to drown it with buckets of water he was using for fire suppression.
Although unsuccessful in disabling the drone, Mayden's "unusual actions" alerted the Conservation Officers, who returned to find Lieppi flying the drone back onto his boat and into his hand. The officers subsequently seized the drone, its controller, and Lieppi's cellphone as evidence.
Apology and Remorse
Lieppi reportedly apologized in court for his actions and had expressed remorse previously. In an interview with local media in January 2024 after being charged, he stated: "It was a stupid thing to do, you know, to even try to launch a drone. ... It was a mistake for sure, absolutely a mistake."
The incident highlights the serious risks posed by unauthorized drone flights during wildfire emergencies, where such aircraft can interfere with critical firefighting operations and potentially endanger both personnel and property.
