Whistler is first in Canada to use FireWatch cameras

New fire detecting cameras will go live in Whistler this week.

Whistler Fire Rescue has purchased two IQ FireWatch Plus sensors at around $100,000 each. The German designed cameras are located at the Whistler Transfer station and at the Crystal Hut on Blackcomb Mountain.

A two year trial will take place with the cameras, and if successful the region could see more setup. Prior to the new technology the fire department relied on calls from members of the public and assistance from air traffic to spot new fires.

Acting Fire Chief Chris Nelson says the cameras look for potential forest fires, and can differentiate between 15,000 different shades of grey; “It also recognizes smoke-like movement, so the combination of variables in colours of grey and movement of smoke. It sends [an] alert to us, and we have the opportunity to take a look at that – what the camera sees, and determine whether or not that is a fire or not a fire or just passing smoke or passing dust cloud”.

Nelson says one of the issues they are finding with the new technology is false positives. On a cloudy day up to 200 false positives can be triggered, which someone has to then determine if they are “good smoke or bad smoke”. If they are bad smoke, resources can then be sent out to tackle the fire. The camera takes pictures every 22 seconds, 336 degrees in its pan.

According to the Acting Fire Chief the cameras can in fact see through smoke the region has been experiencing from wildfires elsewhere in the Province. He also says that Whistler is the first community in the country, possibly North America to be using the technology.