Arizona is using AI-monitored cameras to detect wildfires

Arizona is using AI-monitored cameras to detect wildfires more quickly.

Arizona is the latest state to incorporate AI cameras from a company called Pano. The state is now operating seven cameras that monitor wildfire-prone areas for fires.

When smoke is detected, the state Department of Forestry and Fire Management is notified.

“We're not eliminating wildfire risk. In fact, the threat seems to be increasing. But we're getting smarter, we're getting faster, and we're getting more aligned,” state Forester Tom Torres said. “More aligned with our partners across the state, and that's how we stay ahead of the problem.

“We are leveraging emerging technologies and staying ahead of the curve to keep people safe and mitigate the threat of wildfires, while making it easier for our first responders to do their jobs,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement.

DFFM Fire Management Officer John Truett said wildfire season is already underway.

“We already are four to six weeks ahead of normal on our vegetation drying,” he said. “Governor Hobbs stated that we're doing some prescribed burns, but now we are getting to the point where … the vegetation is too dry for us to do controlled burns.”

DFFM Director of Operations Russ Shumate said there aren’t many human-staffed fire towers anymore, so the AI cameras are filling a gap. He said they benefit fire prevention by giving more accurate locations faster than humans, although they don’t see as far out.

“We just went operational, it looks like we detected one today,” he said Friday.

Each camera oversees a 10-mile radius. Arizona has been operating them for two weeks.