As wildfires continue to threaten regions across France, Spain, and Portugal, emergency services are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to improve early detection. While traditional firefighting methods remain essential, technology is shifting how teams identify and monitor blazes.
In the Gironde region of France, AI-assisted cameras have largely replaced the human lookouts previously stationed in watchtowers. According to Guillaume Millet, a veteran firefighter and union representative, these systems provide a critical advantage by distinguishing between smoke and common environmental disturbances, such as dust from agricultural machinery. These cameras can monitor forests up to 20km away, providing real-time alerts directly to firefighters' mobile devices.
Companies like FireTracking and Midgard are deploying these systems to provide responders with live video feeds, precise mapping, and predictive models of how a fire might spread based on current weather conditions. Jean-Simon Chaudier, CEO of FireTracking, noted that early detection is vital, as it can be the difference between a small incident and a major catastrophe. In one instance, the system identified seven fires 15 minutes before any emergency calls were received.
Beyond detection, innovation is expanding into aerial support. The French civil protection service is testing solar-powered drones for patrols, while other projects explore sensors that detect gases emitted before flames appear. Start-ups are also investigating heavy-lifting drones capable of carrying water or chemical suppressants to act as an autonomous first response for nascent fires.
Despite these advancements, experts emphasize that technology cannot replace human personnel. Firefighting requires physical intervention to manage hoses and secure terrain, tasks that aircraft and drones currently cannot perform. While technology may soon make the job safer by providing better risk assessments, Millet maintains that the core of firefighting remains the work of crews on the ground.
Source: BBC News
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