Earlier this week, a 16-inch-by-16-inch, battery-operated hobby drone crashed in Arizona’s Coconino National Forest, several miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The drone caught fire when it crashed, igniting a grassland area called Kendrick Park. The Kendrick fire spread more than 300 acres, but it was contained by 30 firefighters within the day.
Coconino National Forest spokesperson George Jozens told Ars on Friday that it was unclear what kind of drone caused the crash, but the pilot had been identified and was charged with starting a wildfire by Forest Services Region 3 Law Enforcement. Ars contacted that department for comment, but we have not yet received a response. Penalties for starting a wildfire can range from fines to community service to jail time.