CORE Electric Cooperative (CORE), the largest electric distribution cooperative in Colorado, Xcel Energy, the largest energy provider in Colorado, and Pano AI (Pano), the developer of artificial intelligence-driven wildfire detection, share details about the use of AI-powered cameras in detecting and aiding the successful containment of the Bear Creek Fire in Douglas County.
The Pano AI cameras, funded by CORE and Xcel Energy, are strategically located near utility infrastructure or on third-party assets, like telecommunications towers, and were instrumental in the early detection and response to this potentially devastating wildfire.
Potentially devastating wildfire
On June 16, 2024, at approximately 9:30 AM, the U.S. Forest Service and the Pano camera system simultaneously detected wildfire smoke caused by a lightning strike in the Bennett Mountain area above Strontia Springs Reservoir in Douglas County. The Pano system provided triangulated coordinates and a video of the smoke, confirming it as wildfire.
The Pano system provided triangulated coordinates and a video of the smoke, confirming it as wildfire
Given the conditions of the day, a Red Flag Warning with high temperatures and low humidity, Emergency Services determined this was a high-risk fire with the potential to spread quickly.
By 9:54, the department launched a helitack response with two 5TA helicopters when the fire was at 0.25 acres, burning on the remote north side of Bennett Mountain, near Bear Creek. An Emergency Services crew of nearly 40 hiked 2.5 hours from Waterton Canyon to reach the site.
Providing critical information
The helitack lasted 5.5 hours, dropping 56 tanks of water totaling 17,765 gallons. By 7:00 PM, the fire was fully contained at three acres. This rapid initial attack prevented the fire from progressing to a large-scale, hard-to-contain fire.
Pano cameras provide remote, 360-degree views and use AI to detect smoke plumes within minutes of a fire starting. Fire notifications are sent to CORE and local fire agencies, providing critical information, including precision triangulation, to give emergency responders a specific location.
Early detection technology
The detection and location identification of the Bear Creek Fire resulted from triangulation between two Pano AI camera stations — one installed for CORE and one nearby, installed for Xcel Energy. Having the specific coordinates helped crews save valuable time when hiking for more than two hours to the remote location.
Mike Alexander, Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, remarked, “Early detection technology and actionable data provided our crews with the critical information they needed to assess the situation and deploy a rapid response. This timely information was essential; without it, the situation could have escalated significantly by noon.”
Fast and accurate responses
To date, CORE has invested in six advanced camera stations using technology by Pano AI
Pam Feuerstein, Interim CEO of CORE Electric Cooperative, stated, “This fire had the potential to be highly destructive. Our investment in this technology is part of our wildfire mitigation strategy to ensure fast and accurate responses and help keep our communities and environment safe. The Pano AI cameras’ rapid detection and precise location were crucial in containing the Bear Creek Fire.”
To date, CORE has invested in six advanced camera stations using technology by Pano AI. Xcel Energy has 28 cameras operational in its service area statewide and plans to activate 42 by the end of this year.
Together, CORE and Xcel Energy will have 48 stations live in Colorado in the coming months along with a dozen more from other local governments and enterprises for a total of 60.
Reducing wildfire threat
“This is an ideal example of effective, efficient collaboration between sistering Pano AI camera networks,” said Sonia Kastner, CEO of Pano AI. “Wildfire mitigation is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed quickly and utility companies like CORE and Xcel Energy are leading the way by investing in advanced technologies to help protect the communities they serve.”
“This incident shows how technology can play a role to protect the public from the ever-growing risk of wildfire,” said Robert Kenney, President of Xcel Energy-CO. “We recently filed our 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, proposing strategies and technologies – like these cameras installed on our infrastructure – which are proving in real-time their effectiveness in reducing wildfire threat.”
