Axis Communications has announced its continued partnership with the University of California San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program. This initiative, which spans the entire state, is dedicated to enhancing wildfire detection and emergency response through the utilisation of artificial intelligence, real-time data, and a comprehensive network of over 1,200 cameras.
The ALERTCalifornia program leverages a blend of AI, advanced sensors, and camera technology to assist emergency managers in identifying potential wildfire activity. This enables public safety agencies to receive timely information, improving their ability to assess and respond to conditions efficiently. As agencies strive for better surveillance in wildfire-prone and remote regions, the program continues to extend its reach throughout California. In 2025, ALERTCalifornia played a crucial role in supporting approximately 3,600 wildfire incidents, highlighting the importance of prompt situational awareness in emergency scenarios.
Collaborative efforts in fire response
Working in partnership with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, various state and local agencies, utilities, businesses, and tech collaborators, ALERTCalifornia provides real-time visual intelligence. This enhances agencies' ability to detect smoke early, thereby improving fire response strategies.
The program's network fuses AI with advanced camera systems to maintain continuous situational awareness, with Axis cameras helping to alert emergency personnel upon detecting potential fire activity. Dr. Neal Driscoll, director of ALERTCalifornia, noted, “Over the past two decades, we've not only seen an increasing number of fires, but a significant increase in the size of those fires.”
Extensive camera deployment
This deployment supports agency efforts to increase observation in remote and high-risk areas
ALERTCalifornia, together with Professional Telecommunications Services and Axis Communications, has deployed over 1,200 cameras across diverse sites, including fire lookout towers and critical infrastructure.
This deployment supports agency efforts to increase observation in remote and high-risk areas. According to Phillip SeLegue, Intel Program Staff Chief at CAL FIRE, in 2025, the system provided alerts for 3,600 fires, often before these were reported via 9-1-1 calls.
Enhancing emergency management
The real-time visual confirmation made possible by ALERTCalifornia allows emergency responders to swiftly authenticate threats, deploy resources effectively, and make pivotal decisions as events occur. Though primarily focused on wildfire detection, the program also aids in monitoring storms, floods, debris flows, and environmental changes. It offers public access to live camera feeds via its website, enhancing community awareness and research.
As environmental threats continue to evolve, ALERTCalifornia demonstrates the power of collaboration between researchers, public agencies, and industry partners. This cooperation is key to enhancing community preparedness, strengthening emergency response, and building resilience. Joe Morgan from Axis Communications expressed pride in supporting the ALERTCalifornia mission, stating, “We're proud to support the ALERTCalifornia team and its mission by providing technology that helps deliver timely, reliable visual information to emergency responders and communities across California.”
Axis Communications announces its ongoing collaboration with the University of California San Diego's ALERTCalifornia – a statewide program helping advance wildfire detection and emergency response through AI, real-time intelligence, and a network of more than 1,200 cameras.
Combining AI, advanced sensors, and camera technology, ALERTCalifornia’s tools help emergency managers identify emerging wildfire activity and provide public safety agencies with timely information to assess conditions and respond more effectively. As agencies seek greater visibility into wildfire-prone and remote areas, the program continues to expand coverage throughout California. In 2025, ALERTCalifornia supported response efforts for approximately 3,600 wildfire incidents, demonstrating the value of timely awareness in emergency situations.
Enhancing fire response efforts
In collaboration with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, local and state agencies, utilities, businesses, and technology partners, ALERTCalifornia streams real-time visual intelligence, allowing agencies to detect smoke quickly and enhance fire response efforts. The ALERTCalifornia network integrates AI and advanced camera systems to provide continuous situational awareness across California. Axis camera technology supports the broader monitoring network, alerting emergency personnel when it detects potential fire activity.
“Over the past two decades, we've not only seen an increasing number of fires, but a significant increase in the size of those fires,” said Dr. Neal Driscoll, director of ALERTCalifornia and professor of geology and geophysics at UC San Diego. “The success of the ALERTCalifornia program is in the fires you never hear about. Deploying Axis cameras and other sensor technologies greatly improves our odds of containment and suppression.”
Potential fire activity
Working alongside Professional Telecommunications Services, ALERTCalifornia and Axis Communications have deployed more than 1,200 cameras across fire lookout towers, infrastructure, and observation sites statewide. As agencies seek greater visibility into remote and high-risk areas, the deployment has steadily expanded.
“We use ALERTCalifornia in all 21 of our Emergency Command Centres,” said Phillip SeLegue, Intel Program Staff Chief at CAL FIRE. “In 2025, the system alerted us to 3,600 fires. Over 50% of the time, we received alerts before any 9-1-1 reports came in. That means we no longer have to wait for a human to identify potential fire activity. The cameras we have in place can detect early warning signs and send an alert immediately.”
Emergency management operations
With real-time visual confirmation of emerging incidents, ALERTCalifornia enables emergency responders to rapidly verify threats, deploy resources, and make critical decisions as events unfold. As a result, the platform stands as a vital asset for agencies across California, driving both wildfire suppression and broader emergency management operations.
While wildfire detection remains ALERTCalifornia’s primary mission, the system also supports storm and flood monitoring, debris-flow assessment, and environmental observation. Agencies use its imagery to monitor vegetation, evaluate risk, and understand changing conditions statewide. Public access also remains a key component of the initiative. Through the ALERTCalifornia website, residents, researchers, pilots, outdoor enthusiasts, and community members can view live camera feeds and gain greater awareness of conditions across California.
Strengthening situational awareness
As environmental threats evolve, ALERTCalifornia exemplifies how agency, researcher, and technology collaboration enhances community preparedness, strengthens response efforts, and builds long-term resilience.
“UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia has become a model for how researchers, public agencies, and industry partners can work together to address complex public safety challenges,” said Joe Morgan, Segment Development Manager, Critical Infrastructure, Axis Communications. “We're proud to support the ALERTCalifornia team and its mission by providing technology that helps deliver timely, reliable visual information to emergency responders and communities across California. Together, we're helping strengthen situational awareness not only for wildfire detection, but also for broader environmental monitoring and resilience efforts.”
