Advanced ALERTCalifornia AI System Revolutionizes Wildfire Response in California
By ChatGPT
As wildfires become an increasing threat in California, an innovative tool is making a critical difference in early detection and response: ALERTCalifornia https://alertcalifornia.org/. Operated by the University of California San Diego, the system employs over 1,100 AI-powered cameras across the state, providing fire authorities with real-time data to combat blazes before they escalate.
The ALERTCalifornia cameras are strategically positioned to monitor fire-prone landscapes. Using advanced artificial intelligence, the system identifies smoke patterns, enabling emergency teams to deploy resources more effectively. The program’s groundbreaking technology has already proven vital in recent Southern California fires, including the Lilac Fire in San Diego County.
“This gives you enhanced situational awareness of what the fire’s doing,” said Neal Driscoll, founder of ALERTCalifornia and a professor at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “The network allows us to confirm fires in their incipient phase, giving responders an edge before conditions worsen.”
One of the system’s key advantages is its speed. By analyzing real-time footage, ALERTCalifornia often alerts fire crews before 911 calls are made. This proactive approach was demonstrated recently when the system detected a remote blaze in San Diego County, allowing firefighters to extinguish it quickly.
Additionally, the network’s cameras perform 360-degree sweeps every two minutes, capturing expansive views up to 120 miles at night. This continuous monitoring aids in mapping fire behavior, evaluating wind patterns, and planning evacuation routes.
Michael Cornette, a spokesman for CAL FIRE, highlighted the system’s significance: “ALERTCalifornia is an essential tool for situational awareness. It helps us make informed decisions under rapidly changing conditions.”
Supported by a $20 million investment from CAL FIRE, the program also emphasizes collaboration. Its open-source technology and data-sharing initiatives aim to benefit emergency management teams across California and beyond.
As climate change accelerates the frequency and intensity of wildfires, tools like ALERTCalifornia are becoming indispensable. With its ability to adapt to evolving fire patterns and provide actionable insights, the system is redefining wildfire response, ensuring that communities are better protected from these devastating natural disasters.
Alert California cameras become a staple of fire protection as blazes hit Southern California | KPBS Public Media
Contributors: Carlos Castillo / Video Journalist
Published January 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM PST
California firefighting has a powerful tool: Alert California. Operated by UC San Diego, the system uses 1,146 cameras to detect fires before they’re visible to the public. KPBS sci-tech reporter Thomas Fudge explains how this technology has aided recent SoCal fires.
Alert California is a firefighting tool that stretches across the state. But it doesn’t put out any fires.
Its cameras are at work 24/7 using artificial intelligence technology to search the landscape for signs of smoke so firefighters can stop a wildfire before it really gets started.
“We try to confirm, identify fires in the incipient phase,” said Neal Driscoll, a geology professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who is the founder of Alert California.
“Once (fires) get a hold in windy conditions like this, our networks provide enhanced situational awareness so they can see what roads they can get out. They can see the progression of the fire.”
That network Driscoll is talking about was founded and operated by UC San Diego. It can be seen with a quick look at Alertcalifornia.org.
The website shows the location of 1,146 cameras that are trained on viewsheds that are known to generate fires.
Lately the Southern California end of it had its cameras pointed at conflagrations like the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire in LA county. And the Lilac Fire in San Diego that ignited overnight this week.
At night, Driscoll says the cameras focus on the fire. But in daylight, when heat and low humidity make fires more combustible, they look for the smoke.
“This gives you enhanced situational awareness of what the fire’s doing,” Driscoll said as he showed footage of the Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles unfolding in real time.
He pointed out the smoke saying it was “laid over” as it appeared to be hugging the ground. That horizontal movement meant the fire was being fueled by strong, dry winds.
Alert California is a system of artificial intelligence that has learned what the angle and behavior of smoke means to the fire’s progression, and how authorities should respond.
“How is the smoke bent over? Do I send two battalions? Do I send three? So the dispatcher is able to use these data and the density of the cameras is such that our viewsheds are getting closer to covering regions of complex topography,” Driscoll said.
He said the alert system often “beats” 911 calls, notifying fire authorities of blazes before anyone calls the emergency number.
San Diego CalFire spokesman Michael Cornette mentioned a recent fire, in a remote part of San Diego County, that was flagged by the alert system. Firefighters responded and put it out before authorities got even one 911 call about it.
“I think (Alert California) is an essential tool in our response to get instant situational awareness, to be able to make decisions based on those conditions. When they discover an anomaly they send us an alert,” Cornette said.
Driscoll says global
warming is changing everything, overrunning the old models of fire
fighting. He says Alert California is one way to stay on top of that
changing reality.
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A journalist with 30 years of experience, Tom covers science and technology stories for KPBS' platforms. He has received recognition for his outstanding work in hosting and public affairs reporting from the Unity Awards, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, and the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
CAL FIRE and University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia Program Join Forces to Enhance Wildfire Response with Artificial Intelligence Implementation Trial - ALERTCalifornia
Written by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Sacramento – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is pleased to announce its groundbreaking partnership with University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program. With the shared goal of improving firefighting capabilities and response times, CAL FIRE and ALERTCalifornia will embark on an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation trial in collaboration with the San Bernardino Unit, Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit, Nevada Yuba Placer Unit, Shasta-Trinity Unit, and San Luis Obispo Unit.
At the heart of ALERTCalifornia’s cutting-edge technology are its 1,032 high-definition, pan-tilt-zoom cameras strategically deployed throughout California. These cameras, including the 199 sponsored by CAL FIRE, create a 24-hour surveillance network equipped with near-infrared night vision, enabling efficient monitoring of active wildfires and other disasters. With remarkable capabilities, ALERTCalifornia cameras can perform 360-degree sweeps approximately every two minutes, providing clear visuals of up to 60 miles on a clear day and an impressive 120 miles on a clear night. Visit the ALERTCalifornia website and explore their “camera quilt” to access live camera feeds and detailed network information: alertcalifornia.org
One of the key innovations being introduced through this partnership is an advanced AI tool developed by ALERTCalifornia. This groundbreaking tool is designed to identify abnormalities within the camera feeds, promptly notifying Emergency Command Centers (ECCs) and First Responders of any significant changes that may require further investigation. Limited to authorized and trained ECCs and First Responder users, this AI tool utilizes state-of-the-art anomaly detection techniques, which are particularly challenging to implement effectively. By leveraging the vast petabytes of data recorded by the cameras, a machine-learned model has been created to accurately differentiate between smoke and other particles in the air.
CAL FIRE’s significant investment in the ALERTCalifornia program has totaled $20,277,000 over the past four years, and the commitment will continue with an additional funding of $3,516,000 in the coming years. This collaboration with UC San Diego has proven highly successful, as technology advancements are shared as open-source and freely accessible resources to benefit a broader range of users. The AI implementation trial aims to unlock the immense potential of AI technology in wildfire prevention, detection, and response.
By harnessing the power of AI, we have the opportunity to revolutionize our firefighting strategies by analyzing vast amounts of data, predicting fire behavior, and providing real-time insights to firefighters on the ground. The ALERTCalifornia platform will ensure the development of an exceptional tool, making it accessible to all First Responders across California.
By combining the expertise of CAL FIRE and UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program, this groundbreaking partnership strives to create a safer and more resilient California. Together, we are working towards a future where advanced technologies enable us to effectively combat wildfires and protect our communities.
About ALERTCalifornia
ALERTCalifornia is a University of California San Diego public safety program that provides critical infrastructure for mitigating wildfire and natural disaster risk to life, property and ecosystems. The advanced network of more than 1000 cameras across California helps emergency managers monitor natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and landslides. ALERTCalifornia is a vital resource that provides an array of technological tools, infrastructure and research that supports government agencies, utilities and the public in their response to ever-increasing natural disaster risk. ALERTCalifornia also gathers vital data to inform the greater understanding of natural disaster causes, active event behavior and post-event impacts to air quality, water quality, ecosystems, and human health.
About UC San Diego
At the University of California San Diego, we embrace a culture of exploration and experimentation. Established in 1960, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to look deeper, challenge expectations and redefine conventional wisdom. As one of the top 15 research universities in the world, we are driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth and make our world a better place. Learn more at ucsd.edu.
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