PHOENIX (AZFamily) \u2014 As monsoon storms roll in, fire danger is ramping up across Arizona. Lightning can easily spark a wildfire, especially with how dry it has been.<\/p>\n
Maricopa County is rolling out new tools that use artificial intelligence to spot fires early, before they grow into bigger, more dangerous problems.<\/p>\n
The new 360-degree cameras are installed across Maricopa County on top of mountain peaks. Their job is to spot signs of wildfire as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWildfires are our most common threat we see in Maricopa County,\u201d said Ron Coleman with the county\u2019s emergency management department.<\/p>\n
How the system works<\/p>\n
The cameras use AI technology to help detect possible threats like smoke. For example, when the camera on Mount Ord detects a potential threat, an alert is sent to a person who reviews it.<\/p>\n
\u201cA live human being then reviews that to make sure that it isn\u2019t just a dust devil and that it is a wildfire,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cOne of the nice things about the camera is it allows for earlier detection. They\u2019ve got broad views around the county.\u201d<\/p>\n
The old method relied on someone calling the fire department after seeing smoke.<\/p>\n
When it comes to wildfires, every second counts. Those extra minutes can mean the difference between a small brush fire contained quickly and a neighborhood evacuation.<\/p>\n
High-risk areas monitored<\/p>\n
The cameras are focused on areas the county calls high risk, rural places where wildfires have started before and where they can spread fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow with AI cameras, with modern technology and communication, we can really keep a better eye on what\u2019s happening and really help protect the people of Maricopa County,\u201d Coleman explained.<\/p>\n
The dozens of cameras are monitored from a secure, undisclosed location in the county. The new high-tech building is where the county tracks disasters and emergencies like flooding and wildfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur job here at Maricopa County emergency management is to help keep the public safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The county installed the cameras with help from APS. There are nearly 50 cameras now spread across elevated locations, including Thompson Peak, which was the most recent one installed.<\/p>\n
The cameras combine ultra-high-definition cameras, satellite feeds, artificial intelligence and cloud-based software to provide real-time actionable intelligence and situational awareness to inform rapid response to wildfires before they escalate.<\/p>\n
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