KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A stubborn brush fire along the Cheshire Rail Trail in West Keene drew a large firefighting response Thursday evening, with crews relying on drones, off-road vehicles, and water shuttles to bring the blaze under control.

The fire was first reported just before 5 p.m., when passersby spotted a column of smoke near Stearns Road. Fire units could see the smoke from West Street as they made their way to the scene, according to officials.

Finding the source proved challenging. The fire was burning in a wooded, hilly area behind Archway Farm on Arch Street, and firefighters on foot and in utility vehicles struggled to locate it at first. A drone provided by Rescue Inc. of Brattleboro ultimately pinpointed the flames.

By the time crews reached the site, about half to one acre of brush was burning. Though the footprint wasn’t large, officials said the fire was deep-seated, requiring significant digging and water to extinguish.

More than a dozen Keene firefighters worked the fire, joined by brush trucks from Hinsdale, Winchester and Spofford. Because of the remote location, water had to be trucked in from nearly two-thirds of a mile away. Swanzey and Westminster covered Keene stations during the operation.

The fire was declared under control around 8 p.m. No injuries were reported and no property damage was involved. Crews planned to continue monitoring the area for flare-ups in the coming days.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Keene Fire Marshal’s Office. Officials noted that the city continues to prohibit outdoor burning and consumer fireworks, citing very high fire danger conditions.

Anyone with questions about the fire’s cause may contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at fire-marshal@keenenh.gov.