Milton firefighters use drone to find deep woods brush fire

View of West Milton brush fire from the air. (Courtesy image/Drone)

MILTON - In what may be a first for this area, Milton Fire and Rescue crews used a drone to help locate a brush fire deep in West Milton woods on Monday.

The call came in around 5:20 p.m. for a brush fire in the area of Hare Road near the Middleton line, but due to the extensive burn area and rolling hills, the first units on scene were unable to determine an accurate size and origin of the fire, fire officials said.

The drone, which belongs to a department member who volunteered its use, enabled firefighters to locate the blaze in woods behind Auclair Road in Middleton.

"The drone really helped us," said Milton Fire and Rescue Capt. Jeff Roub today.

A first alarm was requested bringing in assistance from Farmington, Wakefield, Rochester, Middleton, Somersworth, New Durham and Frisbie EMS.

The seven and a half acre fire was soon brought under control and crews began exiting the woods at dark.

The brush fire is the largest fire in Milton in recent history.

Although the fire is controlled, smoke may still be present in the area, where firefighters returned today to investigate any possible cause and put out hot spots that may remain.

Anybody with information on this fire please contact the fire station and ask for Lt. Bellen. 652-4201.