FOREST, Miss. - The U.S. Forest Service is using drones to help fight wildfires in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission confirms there have been 517 wildfires since August 1, most in the coastal area. More than 9,000 acres of land have been burned. Forty counties are under a fire burn ban.
The Forest Service said drones have been used in about a dozen of those fires.
Once on scene of a fire, drones are launched to "provide eyes in the sky" for resources on the ground, said Jacob Schuler, drone unit leader to basically see what the fire is doing at all times.
Two of the drones are equipped with infrared cameras - to see through the smoke and operate at night - to detect wind direction and to let crews know which areas around the fire are safe.
The Forest Service also uses drones when making controlled burns throughout the state. (WAPT 09/07/23)
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