AI system could help spot Utah wildfires early

OGDEN — 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.

"The 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," Rose explained. "That's been the problem we've had in the past, is some of these fires that start in these remote areas. Nobody sees it for quite some time."

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 100 wildfires in the early stages across the western U.S. The company is currently working with more than 500 agencies across 15 states.

"We've found that when it comes to these mega fires, they all start small," Satyam said. "What we're doing is really understanding the nature of a fire, start triangulating the location of it and providing powerful imagery, real time."

Partnering with Rocky Mountain Power, Pano.AI currently has five cameras across Utah. Two of them help monitor the Ogden Valley, one on Powder Mountain, and another watching from Lewis Peak in Summit County. Two more cameras are planned for Morgan County.

Rose said the system alerts dispatchers via email and text, allowing them to close in on the location, and determine what type of a response may be necessary. The human element helps weed out controlled burns and other nonemergency sources.

While Weber County has only had use of its cameras since last October, Rose said he can see the potential they provide in helping prevent damage and property loss.

"The quicker we can get a resource out there to get that fire knocked down before it spreads, is going to save us time, money (and) property," he said.

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