[3] The fire closed Interstate 15, the main highway connecting Southern California with Las Vegas, Nevada, during the first day of the blaze.

[3] The remnants of Hurricane Dolores assisted with putting the fire out by drenching the area the same weekend, while causing other damage in Southern California.

[10] The presence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) in the area that interfered with fire fighting efforts has renewed discussion of legislation to limit the operation of drones in the United States.

Efforts at fire suppression were complicated by the presence of drones (UAVs) in the air space being used by fire-fighting helicopters and airplanes, and by a shooting at the command center.

[12] United States Representative Paul Cook, Republican-Yucca Valley, introduced legislation known as the Wildfire Airspace Protection Act of 2015, (H.R.

Prior to the meeting, Board Chairman James Ramos stated, regarding UAVs in the area of fire fighting operations, "When you are inhibiting the response of the first responders, then you infringe on the safety of the residents of San Bernardino County.

And some members of the California House of Representatives are urging the Federal Aviation Administration to consider geo fencing of commercially available UAVs, which could be used by authorities to keep them out of restricted areas.