California hopes to get the jump on fires by expanding its high-tech early warning camera system

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

California Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom's high-tech plan to fight wildfires, which he outlined during the campaign, is now getting renewed attention, with the state facing longer and more devastating fire seasons.

Some experts have called the project — a camera network that gives an early warning of wildfires in forests and other high-fire areas — a "game-changer."

PG&E, the parent company of the Pacific Gas & Electric utility unit, is expected to become a major player in the early warning camera expansion, CNBC has learned. Public attention has focused in recent days on PG&E infrastructure as a possible source of the current Camp Fire in Butte County.

While the cause of the Camp Fire remains under investigation, PG&E reported an "electric incident" just before the blaze is believed to have started. As of Thursday evening, an estimated 9,700 homes have been destroyed, 63 deaths have been reported and more than 630 people are unaccounted for. PG&E previously was blamed for at least 16 wildfires in last year's fire siege in the North Bay.

During the campaign, Newsom touted the value of tech solutions for wildfires as the danger from a year-round fire season and drought-parched land grew. This includes artificial intelligence as well as early warning infrared cameras around the state that can spot wildfires and enable quick response by firefighters.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/california-hopes-to-get-the-jump-on-fires-by-expanding-its-high-tech-early-warning-camera-system/ar-BBPN9vJ?li=BBnb7Kz

[BigmanPigman]

1. Utility companies are often at fault for causing the fires themselves.

The fire in Malibu 10 years ago was...
"The fire began on Oct. 21, 2007, when three power poles alongside Malibu Canyon Road snapped during high Santa Ana winds and ignited nearby brush. The fire burned 3,836 acres, destroyed 36 vehicles and 14 structures, damaged 19 others and injured three firefighters."
http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_e115f3aa-02e3-11e2-811c-0019bb2963f4.html

That same year there was the huge Witch fire (the state's 6th worst fire), also due to power companies...
"The California Public Utilities Commission ruled that in the Rice fire, San Diego Gas and Electric had not trimmed back trees as state law requires. It was also at fault, the commission said, in the Witch and Guejito fires. The power line that caused the Witch fires shorted three times in three hours, but the utility didn't cut power to it for six hours.[34]

In August 2017, administrative law Judges S. Pat Tsen and Sasha Goldberg ruled that the utility did not reasonably manage its facilities and that the wildfires were not outside of its control. Therefore, they ruled that the utility could not pass its uninsured costs along to its ratepayers. The PUC agreed in early December in a 5-0 vote.[34][35]" wikipedia