Latest news with #GeorgeGeissler
Geek Wire
14-07-2025
- Geek Wire
Washington opens wildfire surveillance feeds to public as fire season ramps up
A hazy view from a Pano AI wildfire-detection camera deployed near the town of Tonasket in Washington's Okanogan County. (Screen grab from DNR site) Washington state officials are now streaming surveillance camera feeds from 21 locations, allowing the public to remotely monitor for Pacific Northwest wildfires in real-time. Forecasters say there's an above-average risk for fires in the region this summer due to lower-than-normal precipitation earlier in the year and projections for higher temperatures. While the artificial intelligence deployed by Pano AI will almost certainly spot blazes first, people can scan the rotating 360-degree camera feeds to get a visual sense of air quality and potentially watch fires as they develop. The Washington Department of Natural Resources launched a pilot program with Pano AI in 2023, placing cameras at sites where wildfire risk is high and the chances of a person reporting it are lower, based on historical data and models. Five more cameras are scheduled to come online this year. 'When Pano AI approached us with a new publicly accessible camera feed feature, it was an easy yes,' said George Geissler, DNR's state forester and deputy supervisor responsible for wildland fire management, in a statement. 'Early detection is a key part of DNR's wildfire rapid response model,' he added, 'and now Washingtonians can peek behind the scenes at how part of that detection process works.' Last year, the California startup's technology found an undiscovered fire in Mason County, alerting fire departments who were able to put the fire out in hours, limiting the burn to less than 20 acres. DNR has a contract with Pano AI through 2029. Other wildfire and smoke-related information is available from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC), Washington Smoke Blog, which is run by government agencies and Tribes; PurpleAir; and the Washington State Department of Ecology's air quality map.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Washington DNR sends 200 firefighters to help with Canada wildfires
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sending more than 200 firefighters to Canada to help battle large wildfires in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It's part of the agency's Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement with Canada. 'Wildfires and climate change don't recognize borders, which is why it's critically important we're able to provide our neighbors the certainty we'll be there to help when they need it most,' Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said. 'With only a line on a map separating Washington from Canada, I'm proud to have a team who can quickly respond to help our neighbors in Alberta and Saskatchewan in the same way Canadian firefighters have helped us with fires in the Okanogan or North Cascades.' DNR has sent eight contracted 20-person hand crews, a DNR 20-person hand crew, a DNR 10-person hand crew, one DNR strike team of engines, and leadership personnel. 'This is a great example of why regional compacts and state-to-state agreements are such a vital part of wildfire suppression preparation and response,' said George Geissler, DNR's State Forester and Deputy Supervisor responsible for Wildland Fire Management. 'We have a strong working relationship with Canada, which sent aircraft to assist on a fire on the Washington side of the border just last month. Now it's our turn to lend a helping hand.' DNR says it remains fully staffed and prepared to respond to any fires that pop up across Washington state. Wildfire season typically ramps up during July and August. According to DNR, nearly 90 percent of Washington wildfires are started by human activity.
Toronto Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Forest and park service worker cuts leave wildland firefighting crews short-staffed
SEATTLE (AP) — Trump administration funding cuts and a loss of federal workers who help support wildland firefighting continues to make planning for the upcoming wildfire season a challenge, according to forest and fire officials in Washington state and Oregon. The biggest issue they're facing is a lack of communication from the federal government as the West faces 'a pretty significant wildland fire season,' Washington State Forester George Geissler said Thursday during a press conference hosted by Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some fire-prone communities in WA are getting more help
More help is coming to some fire-prone communities in Washington. The Department of Natural Resources says it's turning over 15 surplus wildfire engines this spring. 'Local fire districts are a critical first line of defense against wildfire,' said George Geissler, DNR's State Forester and Deputy Supervisor responsible for Wildland Fire Management. 'They're an invaluable initial attack resource, able to reach ignitions early and keep them small. That rapid response time in turn benefits DNR by reducing the potential for larger, more severe wildfires that require multi-jurisdictional response. It is truly a win-win situation.' The engines were made possible through one of DNR's Fire District Assistance Programs. Here are the districts that will receive either an engine or engine accessories: City of Northport FD Clallam County 6 Coulee City FD JFPD Ferry 3 & Stevens 8 Franklin County 1 Grand Coulee FD Klickitat County 4 Klickitat County 10 Klickitat County 13 Lewis County 8 Lincoln County 1 Okanogan County 9 Skagit Regional Fire Authority Stevens County 3 Stevens County 11 Stevens County 13 Spokane County 12 Whitman County 13 'Strong working partnerships across the local, state and federal levels are so critical when it comes to fighting wildfire,' Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said. 'Suppression efforts are interconnected, often in ways many people aren't aware of. I'm committed to ensuring Washington's towns continue to have the tools they need to be prepared to defend against wildfire.' According to DNR, wildfires torched more than 300,000 acres across Washington last year. That's nearly double the 151,000 acres burned in 2023.
