WEXFORD COUNTY -- Officials from Manistee National Forest hosted a Firefighting demonstration at the Wexford County airport on Wednesday.

Aerial firefighters practiced dropping hundreds of gallons of water from their helicopters.

Carol Nilsson, the Fire Information Officer with Manistee National Forest, said the helicopters can prevent hundreds of acres from being torched during a forest fire.

“It is just such a valuable resource for us. It can make the difference between a 100 acre fire and a 1,000 acre fire,” Nilsson said.

The Manistee National Forest hired a private fire company, Erickson Air-Crane.

Their team will be stationed at the Wexford County Airport, where they store their specially designed firefighting helicopter. “It can carry up to 2,600 gallons of water,” said Nilsson.

Nilsson is hopeful that the helicopters will not have to be used this year, but said they are ready for launch if a fire breaks out in the Manistee National Forest.