In the Marketplace podcast episode From Satellites to AI, Tech Has a Role to Play in Battling Blazes, Kate Dargan Marquis, a member of the WUI Fire Institute advisory council and former California state fire marshal, highlighted the growing role of technology in wildfire detection and response. She discussed innovative tools like AI-powered smoke detection cameras and the upcoming FireSat satellite network, designed to provide near-instant fire detection worldwide.
While emphasizing the urgency to close a 20-year technology gap, Dargan Marquis noted that technology alone cannot address the increasing scale and frequency of wildfires fueled by climate change. She called for comprehensive solutions involving community engagement, policy changes, and home-level passive protections to complement advancements in firefighting infrastructure.
