AI-powered cameras detect wildfires 15 minutes before emergency calls in France

French startups FireTracking and Midgard have deployed AI-assisted camera systems across the Gironde region to detect forest fires with unprecedented early warning capabilities. The technology uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between smoke and dust with near-perfect accuracy, detecting fires up to 20 kilometres away. Upon detection, firefighters receive real-time video feeds with 40x zoom, exact coordinates, nearby building locations, and AI-predicted spread patterns based on weather conditions. According to FireTracking's CEO, the system recently detected seven fires up to 15 minutes before the first emergency call arrived, potentially preventing major incidents. FireTracking currently monitors one million hectares across France. The deployment of 11 detection sites in the Indre-et-Loire département cost €1.2 million to cover 6,000 square kilometres, addressing the region's approximately 300 annual crop fires.