It's a hot day in early December and the Tasmanian winds are fierce.
Fires are burning in both Dolphin Sands and St Helens on the east coast, putting fire services under strain.
They are clearing Dolphin Sands, where 19 homes have been lost, while fires are still burning in St Helens.
Suddenly, a remote artificial intelligence camera spotted a small plume of smoke rising from the crater in the middle of dry bushes, a few kilometers away near St. Mary's Church.
Cameras came to the rescue as firefighters battled a blaze near St Helens in early December. (ABC News: Meg Whitfield)
It's 8:30 in the morning. An alarm sounds and real-time images are checked before the fire department is notified.
Helicopters are then deployed to precise coordinates from the St Helens fire scene to extinguish the flames.
Two hours have passed since the initial alert was lifted.
For the tired firefighters still working on the coast, a fire disaster has been averted.
The camera was developed by Indicium Dynamics, a software company based in southern Tasmania. (ABC News: Jasmine Snow)
Technology allows crews to spot fires 'very early'
Sustainable Timber Tasmania's (STT) Sean Suiter said the quick response to the fire was a huge relief.
His organization, along with the Parks and Wildlife Service, is one of the main agencies involved in firefighting operations across Tasmania's remote regions.
“Thanks to early detection, STT's on-duty personnel were able to send personnel and equipment to the scene and extinguish the fire very quickly,” Sweetle said.
Sean Suiter says the cameras allow firefighters to respond to forest fires faster. (ABC News: Ebony Ten Broek)
The fire detection technology was developed by Indicium Dynamics, a software company based in southern Tasmania.
Rob Vernon, chief executive of the company, said: “The St Helens fire was detected by remote cameras and was also reported by local residents.
Where this technology really promises to be a game changer is in remote fires, some of which can be ignited by lightning.
Now, with a $1.4 million grant from the Federal Government, STT and Indicium Dynamics will double down on remote fire suppression technology by deploying a new generation of remote cameras, drones and support technology across Tasmania.
This technology provides firefighters with detailed information about where the fire is spreading. (ABC News: Jasmine Snow)
Camera detects fire 130km away
Camera tests have already proven their worth.
“We detected over 550 fires in the state during the 2024/25 season, 123 of which were reported directly to fire management agencies,” Mr Vernon said.
Test cameras were installed on fire towers already installed on hilltops and high ground, providing a clear view to the horizon.
Installing a camera atop an existing fire tower provides a clear view of a wide area of the landscape. (Provided by: Indicium Dynamics)
This technology could eventually replace the need for fire towers, which are often staffed with fire spotters during fire season.
“The fire tower offers such incredible views of Tasmania, so it was a natural place to start,” Mr Vernon said.
The cameras patrol 360 degrees, 24/7, analyzing the landscape and analyzing smoke from up to 30 kilometers away.
“AI is very good out to a distance of 20, 30 kilometers, but daytime records show fires being detected as far as 78 kilometers,” he says.
”Our record for the night was a fire 80 miles away.”
Rob Vernon said one of the cameras once detected a fire burning 80 miles away overnight. (ABC News: Ebony Ten Broek)
But it's not just fire detection that authorities love about the technology.
Images captured by the cameras are used alongside other data points to paint a clear picture of the fire situation.
“We have access to the cameras themselves, we can measure wind speed and direction with weather stations deployed, and then we can incorporate satellite information,” Vernon said.
Mr Vernon said the technology would help “enhance” the capabilities of firefighters on the ground. (Provided by: Guinness Ramsbottom-Isherwood)
Japan's “largest camera detection network”
The company is also developing portable off-grid towers and cameras, as well as remotely operated drones that can be sent to remote areas during periods of fire risk.
“This will be Australia's largest camera detection network and is expected to help government agencies respond to fires more quickly.”
Suitall said.
“We need this investment to help our fire department personnel as much as possible.”
It is hoped that an arsenal of next-generation technologies will help Tasmania be better prepared to tackle the growing number of bushfires.
“We obviously want and need brave women and men on the front lines of every fire, but our role is to strengthen their capabilities, and we're really excited about the opportunity to do that,” Vernon said.
