A $767,617 regional grant would help fund wildfire-detection technology intended to strengthen early warning and emergency response.
Irvine’s City Council will consider accepting $767,617.12 in regional wildfire funding Tuesday for a technology project designed to improve wildfire detection and response capacity.
The grant would come through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, acting as a regional block grantee under California’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program.
City staff is also asking the council to authorize a sole-source agreement connected to the Regional Wildfire Detection Technology and Capacity Building Project, identified on the agenda as “Sensory AI.”
Early detection focus
Wildfire-detection networks can combine remote sensors, cameras and software analysis to identify possible fire activity sooner and give emergency managers additional information as conditions develop. The posted council action would establish the funding and project authority; it does not guarantee that every alert generated by the system will represent an active wildfire.
The item comes as Orange County communities continue to invest in prevention, evacuation planning and regional coordination in areas where open space meets developed neighborhoods.
The council’s regular meeting begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Irvine City Hall.
