AI put to work helping camera network detect new wildfires earlier

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Wildfire season is fast approaching but firefighters in the western United States have a new tool on their side, a vast network of artificial intelligence-assisted cameras.

A collaborative effort between the University of Oregon’s Oregon Hazard Lab and their partners at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of California, San Diego, their new program called ALERTWest links around 1,200 cameras which use AI to deliver early fire alerts to improve response times.

According to Nick Maggio, assistant director of wildfire technology with the Oregon Hazards Lab, using a single login, firefighters can access and monitor every camera throughout the western US.

“A key part of what we’re trying to accomplish is to remove barriers for first responders and emergency managers,” Maggio said. “No matter where they are deployed, if they have an account with ALERTWest, they can access any camera within the system.”

The Hazards Lab began setting up cameras in 2018 and currently operates 45 cameras in Oregon with plans to place 30 more by 2025.

The cameras were previously available to emergency responders, offering a 360 view of areas around the state, however, the cameras weren’t being watched 24/7, the University of Oregon said. With the new ALERTWest program, the cameras will be monitored using AI which can send out alerts at the first signs of new wildfire ignitions.

“When the algorithm detects smoke or heat, someone verifies it’s an actual incident, and then it goes out to dispatch,” says Doug Toomey, UO professor of earth sciences and director of OHAZ.

The cameras aren’t just for emergency responders though, they can be accessed by the public as well.

“One benefit of the ALERTWest network is that the public is able to access the cameras and see what the fire is doing, so communities and individuals can make more informed decisions,” said Jacob Gear, regional fire prevention coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service.

The cameras are accessible on the ALERTWest website .

The Hazard Lab also said they are hoping to expand the program to other states including Idaho, Colorado and Utah. Currently, there are cameras in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada.

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