L.A. Considers Military Satellites For Wildland Fires — What Would Smokey Bear Do?

[SatNews] The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was told Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials that they should consider using satellites or ground-based cameras installed in forests to detect wildfires soon after they begin. This would include camera equipment that would be analyzed by computers to detect smoke or flames and sound an alarm to a fire dispatcher. The report was initiated by the county’s Quality and Productivity Commission. Their members are appointed by the supervisors and the county’s chief executive, William T. Fujioka.

It was noted that another positive aspect of using a military satellite is that while they are designed to detect missile launches the sat would be able to detect a wildland fire, since a missiles’ flame is similar in characteristics to a wildland fire.

Another helpful aspect that commissioners propose is for officials to determine a system that could electronically track the locations of fire engines to a dispatch computer system, making it easier to send the closest available engine to a fire. And a major element that was addressed is that the county to create a task force for all fire agencies operating in L.A. County to hammer out a single agreement on how to fight wildfires.

“Specific agencies may have rules tailored for their mission that may not be beneficial for other agencies. For example, the Forest Service does not allow aerial suppression activities at night, whereas the Los Angeles County Fire Department] will engage a fire at night using water-dropping helicopters,” the report states.

You can read the report here