Alert Wildfire Web Cams

#1

Just saw an article in my local paper about new network of web cams for fire detection in CA and other states. Looks pretty helpful for early detection or and confirmation for reports that come in.
Alert Wildfire

From their about page: “ALERTWildfire is a consortium of three universities – The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), University of California San Diego (UCSD), and the University of Oregon (UO) – providing access to state-of-the-art Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) fire cameras and associated tools to help firefighters and first responders: (1) discover/locate/confirm fire ignition, (2) quickly scale fire resources up or down appropriately, (3) monitor fire behavior through containment, (4) during firestorms, help evacuations through enhanced situational awareness, and (5) ensure contained fires are monitored appropriately through their demise.”

#2

You’ll notice that for many of the new starts in California posted on this site have pics or links to these cameras or other older networks like HPWREN, SWFRS, etc. They are extremely useful for info sharing and for first responders and leadership.

#3

Yes as a SITL I have taken advantage of the many older camera networks, just that this is a new network that everyone may not yet be aware of. Good addition of intel in our quiver of intel sources!

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#4

It would be nice if they added more air bases. HPWREN/Ramona has been my go to for a couple years for confirmation of a serious fire

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#5

HPWREN could add more AAB cams if they are requested by the agency. Minimal cost for a HD camera like the one Ramona AAB. Cameras are powered by HPWREN and SD County Fire Authority has collaborated for high-speed wireless/internet at many fire stations. Also some USFS faculties have wireless from HPWREN, so adding a HD camera to the network is easily done.
HPWREN could also connect RRU Hemet/Ryan airbase from the network relay up on Santiago Peak, which also has cameras. The agency Cal Fire - RRU has a tower on the ramp that could have 4 cameras for a 360 view. Many of the cameras don’t cause issues with location.
I was instrumental in getting the Ramona AAB cam installed before retiring, in exchange for high speed data HPWREN/Wireless access for the airbase. I didn’t get even try for permissions since I’d already filed my Retirement papers. Management was receptive after staff saw the cam images and in full agreement.

Read more: http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/news/030716.html

IQeye3 camera installation at Ramona AAB photos: http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/Photos/20030829/

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#6

Right click on the videos and you can do a time-lapse.

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#7

Hey all, Mt Konocti cam is back up as of today and watching Golf Fire at the moment.

http://www.alertwildfire.org/northbay/index.html

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#9

Txs RS…hearts anyone

#10

Now that is a great feature!

#11

That timelapse feature blew me away when I found out. Another trick I found was in the layer field on the map (upper right above the crosshairs) is to make sure the Camera View Field is on, which is pretty accurate, and then toggle the Camera Targets on/off as needed. What the camera operators are doing is putting the smoke in the center of the camera’s field of view. The Camera Target will put a line down the center on the map. With multiple cameras aimed, you get a pretty accurate triangulation for the fire. Also make sure the timestamp on the bottom of the pic is current. You might be looking at old footage if the data link had a hiccup, or the equipment case flooded in the rain (ahem Konocti).

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