AI system could help spot Utah wildfires early

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Wildfires that erupt into raging infernos always start small, and Weber County 911 Dispatch Executive Director, Kevin Rose, is hopeful that artificial intelligence could help area firefighters catch more wildfires in that earlier stage. โ€œThe idea is that this will give us a heads up if we can get resources dispatched out to it quickly and get it contained before it becomes a big problem,โ€ Rose explained. โ€œThe problem weโ€™ve had in the past is some of these fires that start in these remote areas. Nobody sees it for quite some time.โ€

The AI system is created by a San Francisco-based company called Pano.AI. Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Arvind Satyam, said its cameras and AI have already caught more than a hundred wildfires in the early stages across the western US. The company is currently working with more than 500 agencies across 15 states. โ€œWeโ€™ve found that when it comes to these mega fires, they all start small,โ€ Satyam said. โ€œWhat weโ€™re doing is really understanding the nature of a fire, start triangulating the location of it and providing powerful imagery, real time.โ€

KSL-TV NBC 5 Salt Lake City

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