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Officials install powerful new tech to stop wildfires in tracks: 'Critical to protecting communities'

"Minutes matter."

"Minutes matter."

Photo Credit: Pano AI

The state of Arizona has recently been equipped with round-the-clock wildfire cameras as part of a larger effort to detect and prevent these natural catastrophes as early as possible. 

Due to its overwhelmingly arid climate, Arizona's landscape is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, especially given the planet's rising temperatures over recent decades. Last year, as reported by the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Arizona suffered over 2,000 wildfires that ravaged more than 280,000 acres. 

As a result, developing strong wildfire response systems is essential within the state, and early detection can ensure that responders arrive as soon as possible, thereby minimizing the ensuing damage.

Developed by Pano AI and installed by Arizona Public Service, these emerging wildfire cameras utilize artificial intelligence to recognize the initial signs of a wildfire in real-time. Each is designed to adjust its position and zoom as the situation demands, according to Happy Eco News. 

"Arizona faces a growing threat from wildfires, and early detection is critical to protecting communities and infrastructure," noted Pano AI's Arvind Satyam.

These cameras are only the latest in the blossoming partnership between APS and local fire departments in Arizona, after extensive collaborative work in clearing flammable brush and maintaining power lines during wildfire emergencies. With multiple successful wildfire mitigation stories behind them — like the Horton and Brady Fires several months ago — it's likely that real-time, artificial intelligence-powered monitoring will only increase the number of cameras.

"When minutes matter, early fire detection provides real-time information so firefighters can respond faster," APS' Scott Bordenkircher explained to Happy Eco News.

As global temperatures rise, particularly driven by heat-trapping pollution from human activities, isolated extreme weather events only magnify in severity as part of a larger pattern, leading to supercharged hurricanes, floods, and wildfires alike.

Nowadays, the impact of a natural disaster can prove shockingly destructive. Wildfires threaten human lives and infrastructure alike, consuming homes and toppling power lines. The smoke released in the process contains a hazardous blend of pollutants and fine particulate matter that can lead to a range of health concerns, from wheezing to heart failure, depending on the degree of exposure.

Per Happy Eco News, APS intends to install over 30 of these ultra-high-definition AI cameras in various wildfire hot spots across Arizona by the end of the summer. With wildfire seasons lengthening in recent years, we'll no doubt witness the product of AI-based wildfire safety solutions soon enough.

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