SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Fire Department can now attack fires at night from the air, 10News reported.

Night vision goggles have been placed in the department's helicopter, Copter One.

The technology was recommended by a Blue Ribbon Panel formed after the devastasting 2003 Cedar Fire.

San Diego Fire is the second department in the country to use the night-seeing technology. Los Angeles County was the first.

"They've been credited with saving structures during the recent Topanga Fire and when we were fighting the 2003 Ceder Fire, LAFD literally stopped the fire at the Los Angeles County line at night," SDFD air operations Batt. Chief Brian Fennessy said.

Flying at night is definately different, even with goggles, but from a fire-fighting perspective it can be crucial to gain the upper hand on a stubborn fire.

"The humidities are higher and fire activity lays down. You can get in and be a lot more producitve with the water," Copter One pilot Chris Hartnell said.

It's one thing to make aerial drops at night, but in order to be truely effective you still need boots on the ground.

"Absolutely, day or night, water drops are helpful, but you have to have fire crews on the ground to stir it up and make sure the fire is out and not come back and bite us again," Hartnell said.