SPOKANE, Wash. – Avista is employing AI-powered cameras to aid in wildfire response.
These cameras, located across Avista’s service area, are capable of detecting smoke from miles away.
The technology allows first responders to take control of the camera, zoom in on the location, assess potential size and fuels, and mobilize a response quickly.
Avista’s Director of Wildlife Resilience Vern Malinsky explained the system’s effectiveness.
“It does a really good job of detecting potential ignitions and issues across our territory,” Malinsky said.
AI cameras are one of several technologies Avista employs to identify and prevent fires.
Last year, they unvelied the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
“In those most critical moments when there’s really extreme wildfire risk to our communities, then we minimize the potential for our infrastructure to be involved in any kind of ignition,” Malinsky said.
Avista achieves this by shutting off power lines to create a controlled blackout, which could leave customers without power temporarily.
Malinsky noted that the energization process can take significant time as field resources must conduct a full patrol, leading to longer outages.
“That’s what fire safety mode is about,” Malinsky said.
. However, cutting off power isn’t without risk, especially for those who depend on electricity for life-saving medical care.
Avista works with customers to find individual solutions.
“We will do the best we can to accommodate those,” Malinsky said.
Avista also uses forecasting to prepare for potential shutoffs.
“Every seven days we look out and we forecast our weather risk. But our goal is to communicate with customers as fast as we can,” Malinsky said.
Malinsky said those forecasts allow Avista to communicate effectively with their customers and provide prompt information.
