Crews begin installing ALERTWildfire cameras at San Vicente Peak, Canyonback Trail
Infrared cameras are being installed in the mountains above Bentwood to help firefighters and first responders locate fire ignition and help evacuations, among other uses.
On Monday, crews began installing ALERTWildfire cameras at San Vicente Peak, and will be adding cameras at the Westridge Trail and the Canyonback Trail as well, according to Councilmember Mike Bonin.
The cameras will provide high definition, near-infrared views to firefighters, first responders and the general public.
ALERTWildfire a consortium of three universities — University of California San Diego, The University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Oregon — has installed over 100 cameras in the Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange County. The state-of-the-art cameras help firefighters and first responders locate fire ignition, quickly scale fire resources, monitor fire behavior, help evacuations through enhanced situational awareness, and ensure contained fires are monitored appropriately through their demise.
The new cameras add to an expanding network that includes locations in the Topanga and a recently added site at Green Peak above the Palisades Highlands.
The ALERTWildfire team plans on installing dozens more cameras in the Santa Monica Mountains in the coming year.
“Special thanks to community leaders Wendy-Sue Rosen and John Binder for spearheading this important public safety effort. Wendy-Sue was especially crucial in helping secure agreements from agencies and property owners to get the work done,” Bonin said.
