Douglas County officials this week showed off their newest tools for detecting and stamping out wildfires, including a firefighting helicopter and artificial intelligence-powered cameras.
Commissioners in January inked a $1.5 million deal that included access to the helicopter, which can dump as much as 300 gallons of water at a time, according to a county news release.
The aircraft took flight Friday at a showcase organized by the county.
Commissioner Abe Laydon said in the release that Douglas County is now the only Colorado county with its own dedicated firefighting helicopter and crew on standby year-round.
The county also promoted cameras backed by Pano AI software, which have been credited with the timely discovery and containment of a wildfire sparked in the Bennett Mountain area above Strontia Springs Reservoir last year.
“We’re not waiting for disaster to strike before we act,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said in the release. “We’re building a wildfire response system that uses every tool available to protect lives, property and our natural resources.”
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