There's a new window into the wilds of Washington State, one that allows anyone with internet access to keep an eye out for wildfires. Pano AI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance, has expanded its partnership with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by making the live feeds from its network of wildfire detection cameras available to the public. This move is part of a concerted effort to involve citizens in the early detection of wildfires, an increasingly vital task in the state's fight against the growing threat of fire outbreaks.
The available feeds come from cameras stationed in 21 high-risk locations, and they use a sweeping 360-degree field of view to help spot ignitions as they occur. When a fire is detected, Pano AI staff, who monitor the footage around the clock, can alert DNR dispatch to quickly send out resources. "When Pano AI approached us with a new publicly accessible camera feed feature, it was an easy yes," George Geissler, DNR’s State Forester and Deputy Supervisor of Wildland Fire Management, told DNR. Five more cameras are slated for installation this year despite concerns over state budget cuts that might hinder such technological advancements in the future.
These detection systems are funded through the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account, which was established by the 2021 House Bill 1168. It marks an ongoing five-year pilot project that commenced in 2023 and has already been credited with successful early fire detections and responses across Washington. As Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove expressed in a statement, the crisis of wildfires impact everyone in Washington and ensuring funds for AI innovations, like those provided by Pano AI, is a continuing priority.
The integration of AI into wildfire detection and the transparency afforded by public access to these camera feeds are emblematic of a broader shift towards engaging communities in environmental monitoring. Unfortunately, the shadow of budgetary constraints looms, potentially compromising the future of such initiatives. "Our agency's wildfire suppression model has grown and evolved to meet the worsening conditions on the landscape," Dave Upthegrove said, and he vowed to fight "tirelessly with our State Legislature to secure and protect the funding that makes innovations like Pano AI possible – now and in the future." The camera feeds can be viewed here and on the DNR website at dnr.wa.gov.
