A Canadian Super Scooper plane fighting California’s wildfires was hit by an illegally flown drone Thursday and is keeping it from flying until it’s repaired.

Super Scoopers are amphibious aircraft designed for firefighting. At around 1 p.m., the unauthorized civilian drone struck the plane, known as Quebec 1, damaged its wing and grounded it, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said in a release on social media.

The incident is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Operating a drone amid firefighting is a federal crime punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $75,000.

The plane landed without incident despite the wing damage. All aircraft fighting the fire that originated in Pacific Palisades were grounded for half an hour following the drone collision.

“We all know how fast a fire can travel in half an hour. So this is a seriously dangerous situation because now that fire is able to go a little more unchecked. This makes me very angry. It is extremely irresponsible and people could have been killed,” California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Christopher Thomas told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

The two Super Scooper planes are operated by Quebec-based nonprofit SOPFEU and have traveled to California to fight fires every year since 1994, according to the CBC.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, 6% of the Palisades fire had been contained. It has burned 19,978 acres, with 5,316 buildings and structures possibly destroyed and one death confirmed, the Los Angeles City Fire Department said on its website. 

At least 10 people died and thousands have fled the wildfires, according to The Associated Press.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.