How technology can help California combat wildfires
The menace of California’s wildfire season is upon us. Large-scale blazes across the Golden State and western region have displaced residents, destroyed homes and left thousands of acres charred. With winter rains months away, the success of mitigating fires today rests with strategic and collaborative uses of data.
As infernos rage, fire and medical responders rely on actionable information to strategically deploy limited personnel and resources. Knowing where fires are active and where they are likely to spread is key to containing them. Innovation companies have proven valuable in assisting responders’ efforts. Google’s mapping services leverage data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites to pinpoint the location of active fires. These locations are consistently updated with near real time information, giving firefighters the most accurate information about conditions on-the-ground.
Citizens affected by wildfires are also able to leverage data to keep themselves and their families safe. Google provides wildfire boundary maps and SOS alerts in the United States to residents in areas impacted by blazes. The search engine also directs residents to resources and live information about evacuations and local support services.
Small startups are also leveraging data to assist in battling wildfires. OroraTech grew out of the Google Accelerator program and is building a canopy of satellites that will use thermal monitoring to track and report fires around the globe that exceed a certain size. The goal is to track blazes across the different types of systems and maps used in different states and provide coordinated information across large swaths of the country.
Public and private collaborations are essential for maximizing the effectiveness of data to limit fire damage. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, is working on legislation to increase collaboration between government agencies, research institutions such as San José State University’s Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center and other private entities in the battle against wildfires. Each actor adds to the shared data. This collective knowledge gives us all the best opportunity to use data to protect the state.
California’s wildfire season is an unfortunate fixture on the state’s calendar. Protecting people and property will not rest on the whim of fickle rain clouds. Instead, first responders, policy makers, innovation companies and bold entrepreneurs will need to continue to work together to leverage cutting-edge insights gleaned from new technologies and data. Policymakers should prioritize the funding and collaboration necessary to support this type of innovation.
Peter Leroe-Muñoz is general counsel and senior vice president of tech policy for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
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