California Harnesses AI Technology for Early Wildfire Detection Before Spread Begins

AI and climate change pose significant threats to life on Earth; however, AI also presents solutions for mitigating climate-related issues. Today, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) announced an innovative program that leverages AI to detect wildfires. In collaboration with the University of California San Diego, the Alert California AI program utilizes data from 1,032 rotating 360-degree cameras to identify anomalies. When a potential wildfire is detected, the system promptly alerts emergency services and authorities.

Launched in July, the program has already successfully extinguished at least one fire. A camera in the remote Cleveland National Forest, east of San Diego, recorded a small fire at 3 AM, which the AI identified. This led to a quick response, mobilizing approximately 60 firefighters, including seven engines, two bulldozers, and two water tankers, effectively controlling the flames within 45 minutes.

Alert California employs advanced technology, including LiDAR scans from airplanes and drones, to generate accurate 3D information about scanned surfaces. This data, combined with the physical characteristics of tree species, enhances understanding of California’s forest biomass and carbon content. The machine learning model processes vast amounts of data from the cameras to distinguish between smoke and other airborne particles.

Developed by engineers at UCSD with AI support from the California-based company DigitalPath, Cal Fire has invested over $20 million into the program over the past four years, with an additional $3.5 million expected soon. “We’re facing extreme climate conditions,” said Neal Driscoll, a geology and geophysics professor at UCSD and the program’s principal investigator. “We must harness technology to tackle this challenge, even in small ways.” However, Driscoll noted that the current sample size is insufficient to assess the program's overall effectiveness.

To explore Alert California’s extensive network of cameras, visit the program’s website, where you can view live feeds from various locations across the region.