Remotly Operated Drone Impact Ignites Vegetation Fire

  
Date: July 4, 2015, 13:08
Agencies responding:  Palo Alto, Woodside, and CalFire
Location:  1135 Campus Dr. East - Lake Lagunita - dry lake bed.
Alarm Level:  First + (Voluntary FASCV Response)
  
Details:  Lake Lagunita was drained many years ago (believe before I retired) after a male drowned in the lake.  A member of the Stanford community was flying a battery-operated drone over the lake and it developed problems and had a sudden impact with the dry, grass-covered, dry lake bed.  I talked to the "pilot" who indicated that if the batteries are damaged, there is a possibility for combustion. Oh Yes!!!!!  The dry lake is within 100 yards of the Foothill Expressway with "Dish Hill" beyond that, with dry tall grass.  Fire Support Unit 1 was out en route at 13:08 and back in the Station by 17:00.
   
Responding Support Unit: FSU-1
Responding FASCV Members:  Gundrum (driver)
   
-- Report submitted by Bob Gundrum