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Pilot cameras and AI on Casper Mountain credited with earlier detections, helping keep fires small
Summary
A two‑year pilot of rotating high‑definition cameras and AI detection (Pano AI) on Casper Mountain reportedly detected multiple fires earlier than calls to dispatch. Local chiefs said early detection reduced response time and helped keep several incidents under an acre, saving resources and preventing escalation.
Representatives of Pano AI and a local fire chief told the committee that an ongoing two‑year pilot on Casper Mountain provided earlier, more precise detection of several wildfires this season.
Michaela Baker of Pano AI described the system: high‑definition cameras rotate 360 degrees every 60 seconds with AI smoke detection; alerts are validated by a 24/7 operations center and then sent to fire managers and dispatch. The company said early detection can reduce response times by 50% in some rural settings and can help convert potential large fires into smaller, containable incidents.
Chief Dan Evers (Castle Mountain Fire Department) described two local incidents where Pano detections shortened response time. On the Muddy Fire, Pano detected a small but fast‑moving fire and the chief said the validated alert reached agencies several minutes before local dispatch, by which time the fire had already grown; Evers said the fire was located quickly and the early information reduced potential growth. On an Oct. 3 vehicle fire the system helped responders go directly to the correct location and hold the fire under an acre, preventing diversion of regional resources.
Pano staff and local chiefs told the committee the system requires power and connectivity; Pano said installations can use tower power, solar/battery and satellite (Starlink) where cellular service is unavailable. The company said the system also supports situational awareness for responders and can help prioritize scarce resources.
