New Mexico wildland firefighters using AI to detect wildfires faster

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is turning to artificial intelligence to help firefighters get to wildfires quicker. Firefighters have relied on sightings of wildfire, 911 calls, and even people in lookout towers who see smoke or flames. Now, they are turning to new technology. “Our firefighters no longer waste critical time trying to locate the fire based on a vague description or chasing smoke, and incident commanders receive real-time visual intelligence during active fires, which helps them make better tactical decisions and resource deployment, and public safety decisions,” said Laura McCarthy, New Mexico State Forester.

The AI-enabled wildfire detection technology provides continuous monitoring of the highest-risk areas. The state is deploying 11 stations in Albuquerque, the East Mountains, and the Santa Fe area, with more stations around the state planned.

Director of Government Development for Pano AI and former wildland firefighter Kat Williams, explained how the tech works. “So the way that Pano works is we deploy high-definition cameras that have AI running on those images. And when the AI detects a wildfire, then it goes to a fully-staffed intelligence center, where a pano analyst will confirm that it is a wildfire. And then that visual intelligence is sent to all fire agencies within a jurisdiction so that,” said Williams.

She said that the visual intelligence from the pano cameras can allow firefighters to send the right resources the first time so that they can extinguish those fires right away. Five stations are already operational and monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week with six additional stations expected to come online by early 2026.

Each station costs about $50,000 a year to operate. The quicker information about a fire starting could also lead to quicker evacuation orders for people affected by the blazes.