VIDEO: Washington is preparing to install 10 additional artificial intelligence-powered cameras designed to detect wildfire smoke in remote areas before flames have time to spread. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources already operates 26 cameras across the state. The latest expansion, funded through the state Legislature, will bring the network to 36.
The announcement comes as a Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Cascade and Olympic mountains overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in both the mountains and lowlands. Lightning is the primary concern because dry vegetation and hot temperatures could allow any new fires to spread quickly.
The camera expansion was not prompted by this particular forecast, but DNR says the technology is especially valuable when fires begin in remote terrain. “Lacking detection cameras, we are relying on the public,” said Russ Lane, division manager for DNR’s Wildland Fire Management Division.
Lane said several people may pass a new fire before someone recognizes the smoke, realizes it should not be there and calls 911. “One of the goals of the mountaintops with the Pano AI cameras is to see into areas where there’s not a lot of public activity,” Lane said. “We’ll get that early detection.”
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