State fire crews planned to use drones Monday to battle a sweeping 460-acre fire that flared up Saturday afternoon in Carbon County.

Larry Bickel, public information officer for the Packerton fire incident, explained the action plan during a briefing Monday morning at the Carbon County EMS center in Nesquehoning.

“We’re going to get drones up today and (fly) the fire,” said Bickel, who noted there were 110 people on scene. “The fire is going to burn for some time.”

Bickel, who came Monday morning from Dubois, added that state fire crews from all over the state arrived from as far as Erie and Crawford counties,

“There are going to be a lot of firing stations today,” he said. “Things are looking really good.”

Bickel said they planned to use two drones; one to recon to see how big the fire is, and the other to do aerial ignition.

The fire — similar to the one that burned 577 acres in Lehigh Gap in November — broke out Saturday afternoon near the D & L Trail down from the Perch Restaurant in Packerton, Mahoning Township.

Bickel said they spent the morning assessing the situation and planning the attack on the fire, which spread to Jim Thorpe and the area of Long Run Road in Franklin Township.

“This is all about the communities, the businesses” he said. “We’re here to help the community.”

Bickel said the origin of the fire remains under investigation.

“Our main concern now is to suppress this fire,” he said. “And actively investigate.”

Volunteer firefighters have been on scene since Saturday staging near the Jim Thorpe market, Long Run Road in Franklin Township and the Mauch Chunk fire tower near Penn’s Peak.

The last two days, helicopters from DCNR were dumping buckets of water onto the blaze. The water drops will stop for the night. People will remain on scene cleaning up the lines and protecting structures.

On Sunday night, Jake Novitsky, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources fire forester, said at any time there were 80 to 100 people fighting the blaze.

Flagstaff and Long Run roads were closed for a time Sunday. The roads are open now.

Smokey conditions could be seen in downtown Jim Thorpe Monday morning.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said just before 10 a.m. Monday that as a result of these conditions, county employees working in offices located in the administration building, 44 and 76 Susquehanna St. buildings, archives, parking and Jim Thorpe magistrate’s office, as well as the courthouse were sent home.