(WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Game Commission says it made history last month using a helicopter to conduct the largest prescribed burn ever conducted by the agency. However, a state lawmaker says the Game Commission torched State Game Land and endangered wildlife.

The Game Commission’s Southwest Region shared a video saying that on May 12, they conducted an “iconic” prescribed burn on State Game Lands 108, located in Blair and Cambria counties.

Officials used a helicopter with a mounted system that dropped ignitor-filled spheres the size of ping-pong balls that ignited leaf litter on the ground.

More than 2,200 acres burned with 39 trained personnel, 12 fire engines, and two ignition UTCs staged. The Game Commission’s Southwest Region called the controlled burn a “major success, helping meet habitat goals for this area.”

It was noted that hand-lighting the more than 2,200 acres would’ve taken three to five days, much longer than the three hours it took using the helicopter.

Nearly a month later, Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks), chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, is questioning the prescribed burn.

“I cannot imagine a foolhardier approach to the PGC’s mission of wildlife management – ‘safe’ for what?” said Maloney.

“This is the exact time of year ground-nesting wildlife, such as turkey and grouse, are raising and protecting their young,” added Maloney. “Tiny fawns hold in tall grass for safety while their mothers forage for food to bring back to them, unless they never come back and are running from the blaze.”

Maloney highlighted additional questions regarding the burn’s timing, noting the Game Commission’s post cited “visibility” to rule out the use of drones for the burn.

“What this post tells me is that they used a helicopter to set fire to 2,271 acres on a day with low visibility,” said Maloney. “This is reckless behavior and likely killed more game than the benefits of a ‘controlled’ burn will produce. As the PGC admitted that this is the first helicopter burn ever, let us hope they learned a lesson and will ensure this is the last.”

On Tuesday, the Game Commission responded to Maloney’s comments, saying this specific prescribed burn produced “low intensity flames” and about 30% to 40% of the State Game Land was not affected by the burn.

“The remote location of this area, and conditions including the steep, rocky terrain there, led to planning a large burn,” said Travis Lau, Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. “Given the size, a helicopter represented the best option for ignition, plus it made the operation safer for crews, more efficient and cost-effective for the agency, allowed for better dispersal of smoke away from populated areas, and, importantly, led to better effects in improving the habitat.”

Lau noted that the Game Commission has previously used helicopters in other portions of the state, but this was the first time in the Southwest Region.

“To ensure safety, controlled burns can only be completed when environmental and weather conditions are right,” added Lau. “Springtime often is optimal. While the low-intensity nature of the burn itself reduces negative impacts on wildlife, some impacts are possible. But the lasting habitat benefits better provide for wildlife in the long term, and lead to healthier wildlife populations.”