How tech is helping in the battle against wildfires

BBC · 2 months ago · 39

AI-assisted cameras have replaced human lookouts in French forests to detect wildfires earlier, with systems in the Gironde detecting fires up to 20km away and distinguishing smoke from dust. FireTracking's system costs €1.2 million to cover 6,000 sq km and has detected fires 15 minutes before emergency calls, giving firefighters critical time to respond before fires spread. While detection technology improves response times, human firefighters remain essential for extinguishing fires, and emerging drone technologies aim to support rather than replace ground crews.