CAL FIRE San Diego Unit (https://www.fire.ca.gov/) Press release announcing that the University of California San Diego, with whom they have worked since July 2023 on the ALERTCalifornia program, has installed a Videowall in the San Diego Interagency Emergency Command Center to provide real-time intelligence of incidents throughout the region.

El Cajon - The partnership between CAL FIRE and the University of California San Diego's ALERTCalifornia has advanced the fight against wildfires statewide. Since its inception in July 2023, this collaboration has improved wildfire detection, response times, and public awareness, keeping us all informed and prepared. The VideoWall is the newest addition to ALERTCalifornia’s technology investments statewide.

Located in the San Diego Interagency Emergency Command Center, the VideoWall provides real-time intelligence to CAL FIRE/San Diego county Fire personnel by displaying fire modeling technology and ALERTCalifornia’s live camera feeds of active and evolving incidents throughout the region. This consists of 13 television screens located throughout the facility, controlled by two separate workstations and broadcasting real-time data to the assigned staff.

"The VideoWall enhances the Fire Department's situational awareness and provides visual context to emergent wildfires and other All-Hazard incidents. With over 50 ALERTCalifornia Pan-Tilt-Zoom
cameras strategically placed throughout the County of San Diego, the VideoWall allows the Command and Control Center to display disparate data feeds 24/7 without interrupting their normal workflow. From wildfire to weather events, VideoWalls enable Command and Control Centers to respond and support firefighters with data in new ways we never thought possible," said Zachary Wells, Deputy Director of Operations for ALERTCalifornia.

ALERTCalifornia continues to grow its camera network, which now features more than 1,130 camera sensors strategically placed to enhance coverage and provide CAL FIRE and other federal, state, and local agencies with better situational awareness. The VideoWall displays live camera feeds and integrates fire intelligence products to provide a common operating picture.

"We greatly appreciate the partnership with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia," said Unit and Fire Chief Tony Mecham. “This technology gives our incident commanders and Emergency Command

Center personnel enhanced intelligence before the first unit arrives on the scene, allowing for time- sensitive decisions to be made through real-time observation of fire conditions.”

The ALERTCalifornia network is evolving rapidly, empowering first responders with critical tools to manage and combat wildfires more effectively. To learn more about the program's advancements
and ongoing projects, visit the ALERTCalifornia website and follow @ALERTCalifornia on social media.

2024 CAL FIRE and the University of California San Diego's ALERTCalifornia