In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, supervisors for San Bernardino County, California, agreed to offer $75,000 worth of rewards (PDF) in exchange for help in tracking down the drone pilots who flew their drones over wildfires in recent weeks. The drone interference has forced firefighters to ground aircraft and has caused fires to “spread faster and further,” according to Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos.

The first incident occurred in late June , when interference from a hobbyist drone flying over the Lake Fire in San Bernardino County forced the US Forest Service (USFS) to divert three planes carrying flame retardant, costing USFS $10,000. The drone was reportedly flying higher than the legally allowed 400 feet above the ground, and USFS had issued a temporary flight restriction over the wildfire, as it does commonly during wildfires. The drone operator was not found.

Two weeks later, during the Mill 2 fire (which was also in San Bernardino County), the Los Angeles Times reports that “officials had to briefly suspend a tanker after a drone was spotted flying over Mill Creek Canyon near California 38.”

Just a few days later, firefighting helicopters were grounded due to the proximity of as many as five amateur drones during the North Fire. The fire engulfed brush near I-15 north of Los Angeles and quickly jumped onto the highway, sending drivers fleeing from their cars, 20 of which were destroyed.

Now, San Bernardino County officials are trying to send the message that they're serious. $25,000 has been set aside for each fire and will go to any person or group that helps the county arrest and convict the drone operators. “We want to know who was flying the drones, and we want them punished,” Chairman Ramos said in a statement, adding that the San Bernardino County Sheriff's department will now “actively pursue drone operators” flying in the vicinity of firefighting efforts.

“District Attorney Mike Ramos warned drone operators that they could and would be prosecuted for murder if their drones led to the death of fire-fighting flight crew or anyone on the ground,” the press release from the county added. The district attorney will be responsible for deciding who will receive the rewards and how much they will receive.

San Bernardino County also set up a tip hotline that people can use to share information on these drone operators—anonymously if they choose.

The strong rhetoric is the result of growing concern from public officials as incidents continue to occur. When Ars first reported on the drone incident during the Lake Fire, USFS officials said another drone had also been spotted in the vicinity of the fire, but that drone operator has been caught. However, the drone hadn't interfered with firefighting air support, so the drone operator wasn't charged with anything. “We were just trying to educate them,” a USFS spokesperson said. The US Forest Service initiated an informational campaign to tell people about the risks of flying drones around wildfires, posting signs saying "If You Fly, We Can't."

Just weeks later, officials got more serious. State legislators Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) and Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) introduced a bill to permit a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail for “intentional and reckless” drone operation during a fire.

Gizmodo points out that a variety of videos over wildfires taken from drones can be found on YouTube. The one below was recently edited to remind others not to attempt the same shot without permission from authorities.