Fire detection cameras being installed at Crown Mountain

The Roaring Fork Valley is set to enhance its wildfire detection capabilities by installing panoramic cameras at Crown Mountain in Basalt. The cameras, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, rotate 360 degrees and can detect wildfires up to 10 miles away, in any weather condition, day or night.

On April 25, a permitted burn resulted in a five-acre fire on Crown Mountain — precisely where the new system will be installed.

The funding for this new system, called Pano AI, comes from the Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative, supported by the Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority and a generous anonymous donor, according to a Tuesday news release.

“It’s a significant investment in technology, but it costs half as much as employing a person,” RFVWC Executive Director Angie Davlyn said. “It increases staffing efficiency by allowing humans to focus on tasks that require human intervention. This technology provides us with visibility in areas we can’t otherwise monitor.”

The new cameras being installed at Crown Mountain mark the ninth such system in the Roaring Fork Valley. Other Pano AI systems are located at Lookout Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Elephant Mountain near Carbondale and Redstone, Red Table Mountain in Thomasville, Jack Rabbit Ridge in Snowmass, and Red Mountain, Aspen Mountain, and Williams Mountain in Aspen.

“The Crown (Mountain) camera … will give us really good coverage in the midvalley,” said Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Chief Scott Thompson. “This pretty much completes the cameras that are needed from Glenwood to Aspen.”

These systems enable fire authorities to deploy resources more efficiently. Upon detecting a fire, the system allows for quicker deployment of resources, including air support, before first responders arrive on the scene.

“Our team faces immense pressure during wildfire season. Installing this new detection system is not just an upgrade; it’s a vital enhancement to our firefighting toolkit,” Thompson said in the release. “This technology enables us to monitor vast areas in real time, providing critical early warnings that help us mobilize resources faster and more effectively. It’s a significant step forward in our ongoing work to keep our valley safe.”

The increasing prevalence of wildfires in recent years, driven by drier conditions due to climate change, makes such advancements crucial. This year is expected to be a La Niña year, characterized by warm and dry conditions.

Despite this, wildfires are predicted to occur at normal levels, according to Davlyn.

“We are anticipating a moderate or normal fire season in the valley. However, even an average fire season involves around 200 fire starts, and it only takes one to get out of control,” she said. “So, normal for us still means staying on high alert.”