An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera flew over the massive Zaca Fire on Thursday, providing a tool to peer through smoke and pinpoint hot spots while delivering real-time data, officials said.

The UAV based at Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster flew at 25,000 feet above the fire, before taking a similar tour of blazes in Northern California.

The cooperative agreement grew out of the U.S. Forest Service assisting NASA after the Columbia space shuttle broke apart on its way to landing at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in 2003.

The Zaca Fire grew by more than 8,800 acres overnight bringing the total acreage charred to 143,212, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.

More smoke and ash are visible today due to an inversion layer of the area, fire officials said. High pressure moved acting as a lid on the smoke and ash, and wind has caused it to branch out to all areas of the county.

Reports by midmorning that the inversion layer is lifting should lead to better air quality are the day moves on, officials said.

In the meantime, officials with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Air Pollution Control District are reminding residents there is a health advisory in effect and anyone with heart or lung disease (including asthma) should stay indoors and limit prolonged heavy activity.

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An informational meeting is planned today at 7 p.m. at the Halfway Cafe on Highway 33 near Ventucopa, on the northeastern edge of Santa Barbara County.

Today, firefighters are expected to continue to construct fire lines on Sweetwater Ridge toward Sisquoc Canyon in an effort to stop the blaze’s northwest progression in the San Rafael Wilderness, officials said.

On the eastern side the fire has become established in Mono Canyon and continues to burn toward Matilija Wilderness, officials said. Back fire operations are scheduled to begin near Three Sisters Peak.

The eastern line of the fire is about 20 miles from Ojai, in Ventura County, and still within indirect fire lines that are built several miles from the active burning.

Depending on the fire’s progression, officials said, a portion of Highway 33 between Ojai and Cuyama and Lockwood Road may be closed Saturday.

Along the southern flank, the fire has established in the Agua Caliente and Diablo Canyon drainage areas, east of Ogilvy Ranch and south of the Hildreth Jeep Trail, officials said. Due to this circumstance, firefighters are planning backfire operations to remove unburned fuel.

Contingency lines near Paradise Road, Camino Cielo Road, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road and the Matilija Wilderness are completed and crews are working on additional fuel breaks to run west to east from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas, officials said.

The Zaca Fire has been burning since July 4. The expected date of containment is Sept. 7. As of Thursday night there were 2917 personnel fighting the fire, which was 59 percent contained. The cost of fighting the fire to date is $76.2 million.