Liberty Utilities, an energy company operating in the Sierra Nevada, recently partnered with ALERTWildfire to sponsor fire cameras in the Tahoe area, improving awareness and monitoring of wildfires in the region.

ALERTWildfire is a camera monitoring network run by the University's Nevada Seismological Laboratory. The live video feeds are accessible to the public, and emergency responders can access the cameras’ pan, tilt and zoom capabilities to better monitor remote areas.

Imagery from the cameras is accessible to the public in three places: the ALERTWest website which integrates ALERTWildfire and other camera monitoring networks in the Western U.S., the ALERTWildfire website, and the Watch Duty app.

Built-in artificial intelligence provided by ALERTWest is designed to alert first responders to smoke plumes from the feeds. ALERTWest also provides a state-of-the-art command-and-control system that allows emergency responders to remotely control the cameras to provide critical situational awareness during wildfires.

“ALERTWest is proud to welcome Liberty as part of the expanding network of partners aligned around interoperability and shared situational awareness,” Scott Schifando, vice president of operations at ALERTWest, said. “Their participation directly enhances public safety for the Tahoe region and the broader Sierra Nevada.”

The cameras guide response by firefighting agencies, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and provide the public with real-time information about the fires affecting their communities.

“This has been one of my main goals since I started at the University, getting long-term support for the Tahoe cameras,” Bill Savran, director of ALERTWildfire, said.

Liberty is partnering with ALERTWildfire in alignment with its Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Part of that plan is a Situational Awareness Program designed to mitigate risk of wildfires.

“We can avoid catastrophic wildfires by avoiding ignition in the first place and reducing response time when fires do break out,” Liberty’s Senior Manager of Wildfire Prevention Peter Stoltman said.

The camera feeds are also used by Liberty’s wildfire mitigation team. The team can watch conditions like wind, which may elevate fire danger, allowing them to make calculated decisions about when and where to cut power to powerlines impacted by those conditions.

“Visual imagery, paired with real-time weather data from Liberty’s network of weather stations, provides valuable information that helps guide decision-making,” Stoltman explained.

The formal launch of the partnership comes at a time when many utility companies are investing in resources like ALERTWildfire to lower costs while helping to better protect the communities they serve.

“Any investment we can make to notably reduce wildfire risk is a prudent and valuable one for our communities,” Eric Schwarzrock, California electric president at Liberty, said. “Reduced risk leads to safer communities and potentially reduced wildfire insurance costs.”

Savran added that while support provided for the initial installment of the cameras is crucial, ongoing maintenance and repairs are costly.

“Liberty sponsoring the cameras in the Tahoe area makes a significant impact and greatly improves our ability to provide awareness to firefighters and the public,” Savran said.