Northern California's North Bay is setting the stage for a potentially revolutionary wildfire response system using artificial intelligence (AI). According to KSRO, six regional units are testing AI-equipped lookout cameras as part of a trial program this summer fire season—a move that could substantially enhance response times to wildfires and other natural disasters.
The enhanced cameras will detect aberrations in the images it captures, such as smoke and flames, alerting people monitoring the cameras of potential hazards. The Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit of Cal Fire, which covers six counties, is among the regional units partaking in this innovative test, North Bay Business Journal reported. This trial program is in collaboration with the ALERTCalifornia system, which has been running for the past 20 years through UC San Diego.
As reported by KTVU, the $24 million AI program, dubbed ALERTCalifornia.org, has just launched its testing phase, with one of the six key test sites situated in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. The existing camera system, which consists of over 1,000 high-definition, infrared, pan-tilt-zoom cameras, will be augmented with AI technology. Enhanced with AI, these cameras can swiftly detect heat, fire, smoke, and even differentiate between fog, mist, and smog.
The expectation is that the AI will flag anomalies faster, allowing firefighters to react more quickly and efficiently to potential fire starts. In a quote provided to North Bay Business Journal, ALERTCalifornia Communications Program Manager Caitlin Scully said, "It's helping to flag those anomalies so the firemen and women can spot potential starts sooner…So really what it's doing is helping push down the response time to make that response time quicker and more efficient.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa authored legislation in 2021 that led to the creation of Cal Fire's Office of Wildfire Technology, Research and Development, which is responsible for pursuing cutting-edge technology like this AI-driven ALERTCalifornia system. According to Benjamin Rogers, assistant deputy director at the office, the ALERTCalifornia system is among several being tested by Cal Fire at different sites, including a pilot area outfitted with sensors in Mendocino County's Jackson Demonstration Forest.
Moreover, besides improving wildfire response efficiency, the AI-equipped cameras could make a significant difference in detecting wildfires during their early smoldering phase, preventing them from spreading and becoming larger or more catastrophic. The trial, happening in the midst of wildfire season, will provide valuable insights into this groundbreaking technology’s potential in the fight against wildfires.
Cal Fire Napa-Lake-Sonoma Unit Chief Mike Marcucci told KTVU, "[The AI program] is truly going to be a robust system that, right now, is just turning the corner into this AI technology to sense when an anomaly happens and let our command centers know—so a human being, a trained fire captain, or a trained communications operator can make that decision and send those resources." Once the six test sites conclude their evaluations, all Cal Fire regions will have access to the AI-enhanced camera system, which will be freely shared with other first responders and the public.
