When “Interference” Turns on Someone Else’s Irritation: The Cautionary Tale in R. v. Leippi
In R. v. Leippi, 2026 BCPC 26, the BC Provincial Court convicted a recreational drone operator of “interfering with fire control” under the Wildfire Act.
The case arose from the 2023 Kelowna wildfire. Mr. Leippi was operating a small drone from a boat on Okanagan Lake to capture footage of fire damage. A helicopter pilot who was bucketing water for wildfire suppression noticed the drone, became irritated by its presence, and briefly attempted to knock it out of the air with water before moving on. Conservation officers saw this and then seized the drone and charged Mr. Leippi.
At trial, the only question was whether Mr. Leippi’s operation of the drone “interfered” with fire control. The court concluded that it did.
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