A brush fire burning near the CEMEX aggregates complex in Brooksville on Sunday pulled in aircraft, ground crews and a quick response from Hernando County fire units, as aerial water drops began and officials pushed out a no-drone warning over the scene.
Cemex Brooksville Brush Fire
— Hernando County Fire (@HernandoCoFire) May 3, 2026
Aerial water drops have started. Please DO NOT FLY DRONES in this area. #nodronezone #brushfire #wildfires #blackhawkhelicopter @FFS_Withlacooch pic.twitter.com/ZuwhE4cLiA
According to Hernando County Fire Rescue, "aerial water drops have started" over the fire area, and responders are urging people to keep drones grounded. The update tagged the Florida Forest Service's Withlacoochee unit and rolled out hashtags including #nodronezone and #blackhawkhelicopter.
Where the fire is burning
The blaze was reported at or very near CEMEX's Brooksville aggregates quarry in northern Hernando County. Business listings place the CEMEX Brooksville site on Camp Mine Road at 11430 Camp Mine Rd in Brooksville, according to MapQuest.
Crews in the air and on the ground
County wildfire responses routinely lean on a mix of aerial water drops, bulldozers and brush trucks to box in fast-moving flames before they can reach homes. Earlier this month, a South Brooksville brush fire needed helicopter drops and heavy equipment to keep it in check, a reminder of how often the region turns to air support in tight terrain, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
Why drone bans matter
Unauthorized drones can force firefighting aircraft to stand down, cutting off critical water drops and putting both pilots and ground crews at risk. The U.S. Forest Service's "If You Fly, We Can't" campaign warns that a single unmanned aircraft can shut down aerial operations until the airspace is clear and that operators who interfere may face civil or criminal penalties, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
What residents should do
Officials are asking residents to steer clear of the area and to follow updates from Hernando County emergency channels while crews work on containment, per Hernando County Fire Rescue. Anyone with information or imagery is encouraged to share it directly with authorities, but residents are being urged not to fly drones or otherwise interfere with firefighters in the air or on the ground.
