How AI, tech, and policy can stop the wildfire crisis

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Sonia Kastner, CEO of Pano AI, has pioneered an advanced detection system that spots smoke within minutes of ignition-often before anyone calls 911.

"We've built a solution that integrates ultra-HD panoramic cameras, satellite feeds, and near-infrared imagery with AI," Kastner explains. "The result? Firefighters get actionable intelligence within moments, instead of hours."

Elsewhere, Bellwether's AI models improve disaster response efficiency by 80%. Instead of manually sorting through aerial images, AI instantly matches fire locations to real-world landscapes, allowing emergency teams to deploy resources faster and more accurately.

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Frank Frievalt, Director of Cal Poly's Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Institute, underscores the need for rebuilding with resilience, not regret.

"We are still building homes in the same fire-prone areas, using the same materials, and expecting a different result. We cannot keep rebuilding in the same way and hoping nature will spare us next time."

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"We suppress 98% of all wildfires, but the more landscapes interact with fire under controlled conditions, the better we can prevent catastrophic megafires."

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