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AI technology credited for early detection of Orange County vegetation fire

By
Published  January 3, 2025 2:33pm PST
Artificial Intelligence
FOX 11

AI identifies wildfire in Orange County before 911 reports

Fire officials say that for the first time, artificial intelligence was solely responsible for helping identify and stop a fire in the area.

The Brief

    • Artificial intelligence helped identify a wildfire in Orange County in December.
    • Orange County fire officials say it's the first time AI was exclusively responsible for detecting a fire.
    • The technology reported the flames before any humans called in reports of flames or smoke.

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - It's a first in the agency's history… the Orange County Fire Authority used artificial intelligence to detect and respond to a vegetation fire. 

Around 2 a.m. on December 4, OCFA’s Emergency Command Center dispatchers received an alert from the University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia camera network’s AI, which identified an anomaly in video footage.

Fire officials say the fire was solely detected by cameras monitoring high-risk areas across the county. The fire broke out in Black Star Canyon, a remote area of Orange County. Because the area is remote, no one reported any smoke or fire. 

Due to the early detection, firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and contained the blaze to less than a quarter acre.

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Photo Credit: OCFA

"This collective support empowered the deployment of these AI-enhanced camera systems in wildfire-prone areas, significantly improving early detection and response. While the agency has been utilizing AI in tandem with 911 calls to detect wildfires for some time, this was the first fire that was located exclusively by AI," OCFA said in a statement. 

No homes or structures were damaged,  and no injuries were reported. 

"This is one example of how we are leveraging emerging technology and strategic partnerships to combat wildfires," said OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy. "With wildfire hazards now a year-round challenge, early detection and collaboration are crucial to protect lives and property." 

The Source 

  • Information for this story came from the Orange County Fire Authority. 

Artificial IntelligenceOrange CountyWildfires