Marketplace Tech

California’s wildfire detection tech was no match for the Palisades fire

Jan 16, 2025

Cyrus Farivar, a senior writer at Forbes, discusses the challenges facing AI-powered wildfire detection systems. Despite California's advanced ALERTCalifornia network detecting over 1,200 blazes this season, it failed against the raging Palisades fire. Farivar explores the limitations of technology in rapidly escalating wildfires and showcases successful incidents like the Orange County response. He also delves into innovative tools such as robots and chemical sensors, highlighting how technology can enhance safety for vulnerable communities.

09:33

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Episode guests

Cyrus Farivar

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Quick takeaways

The AI-powered ALERTCalifornia system significantly improved wildfire detection capabilities but struggled against the overwhelming conditions of the Palisades fire.

Despite advancements in technology, extreme environmental factors highlight the ongoing challenges faced in effective wildfire management and detection.

Deep dives

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Intro

3min

Evaluating AI Technology in Wildfire Detection

4min

Innovations in Wildfire Detection and Response

4min

California relies on a variety of tools to stop and mitigate wildfires, some as low-tech as dumping giant buckets of seawater on the flames. But on the higher-tech side is a new, AI-powered monitoring system called ALERTCalifornia, which was developed at the University of California, San Diego. It’s designed to speedily detect and report wildfires using a network of over 1,000 cameras and sensors. The developers say the network detected over 1,200 blazes across the state during the 2023 fire season, sometimes with impressive quickness. But the system wasn’t quick enough to prevent the current disaster in Los Angeles. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Cyrus Farivar, a senior writer at Forbes, who explored how the fury of the Palisades fire overwhelmed that human-made system.

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