1. A method for measuring wind conditions in and around a large-area wildland fire, said method comprising: determining that the wildland fire has formed; flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) above the wildland fire, where the UAV includes a configurable processor and a communications system for communicating with a ground-based remote controller; deploying a plurality of sensors from the UAV into a target area within and surrounding the wildland fire, including aiming each of the sensors for a specific landing location such that the plurality of sensors form a prescribed pattern within the target area; measuring localized wind data, including wind speed and direction, by each of the sensors; and transmitting the wind data and location data by each of the sensors to the UAV for relaying to fire management authorities.