The California State Assembly Emergency Management committee has advanced legislation to make the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development a permanent department under Cal Fire.
The office was created through Senate Bill 109 in 2021, introduced by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to research emerging wildfire safety technology after devastating wildfires that have impacted the state since 2017. The office’s most successful project to date is Alert California, a series of wildfire cameras placed throughout California forests that use artificial intelligence to detect smoke columns, helping firefighters attack a potential wildfire in its initial stages.
The office is set to close January 1, 2029.
To address the closure of the office, Dodd introduced Senate Bill 74. The bill would help the office avoid closure by making it a permanent office under Cal Fire. The office is overseen by a board of directors. It will be required to submit research findings and recommendations to the state legislature and governor.
“Through the extension of this office, California can continue to work smarter to address the increasing wildfire threat,” Sen. Dodd said in a press release on Monday. “We must continue to be leaders on wildfire innovation, whether it be through novel use of artificial intelligence for early smoke detection or any other means. By remaining on the vanguard, this office can continue to develop ways to keep our state safe.”
Next, SB 74 goes to the California State Assembly Committee on Appropriations for approval.
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