What if a potential fire could be detected even before it starts?
Using artificial intelligence to do such a task is no longer a future science-fiction endeavour. It is here now and could be a game changer for public safety and conservation, according to Savary Island Early Fire Detection Evaluation Committee member Liz Webster.
Fire was the main concern for Savary islanders in an Association of the Savary Island Community survey from 2023.
On August 6, fire detection committee members Peter Armstrong, Nancy Zoehner, Brian Craddock and Webster, along with Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department (SIVFD) deputy chief Doug Corbett and fire chief Chris Philpot, took a representative from a Vancouver-based company called SenseNet on a tour of the qathet region island to explore the practicality of adopting such a tool. The company uses advanced integration of artificial intelligence, ground sensors, cameras and satellite data to provide immediate detection of wildfires in real time.
Insurance and risk management expert Sandy Millar has a seasonal home on Savary and is currently helping guide the committee on this technology exploration process.
"I'm a partner in a national insurance brokerage, so we have a lot of interaction with property underwriters, particularly for insurance markets; wildfire, fire risk, fire exposure is the number one concern," said Millar. "It's certainly the case on an unprotected island like Savary; this technology came up and obviously is being considered for application."
Webster, who is also executive director of Savary Island Land Trust (SILT), said because early fire detection aligns with conservation goals, the SILT board passed a motion that the group would help to raise the funds.
"The fundraising has been underway for a few weeks and we now have $220,000 in pledges and donations toward the $375,000 goal," said Webster.
Some people are wary of adopting new technology, especially artificial intelligence, but anecdotally, Savary residents are curious about the tool used for early fire detection.
"I was surprised, but the sensor was much smaller than I thought," said Webster. "So, I think some people might think, 'Oh, it's going to be too intrusive,' but I think they're going to be surprised when they actually see the size of technology."
Municipalities such as Vernon and Harrison Hot Springs have adopted the SenseNet technology after trial runs.
"Fire insurance is available [on Savary], but it has certainly become more expensive, " said Millar. "Premiums have increased, and that's sort of a universal thing, particularly for any properties in an exposed area."
He said there were questions from residents around whether there would be discounts available if this technology were to be deployed.
"The real benefit, from an insurance perspective, is sustainability; the ability to get fire insurance over the longer term," said Millar. "From an insurance perspective [the technology] goes a long way to ensuring sustainability and ongoing access to insurance."
There are three fire stations on Savary. Webster said fire department members are excited about integrating the technology into their work.
"We all know we are going to have a fire; we need to have the tools to be able to react quickly," said Corbett, while on the August 6 tour. "Waiting is not a good strategy. Let's support the SIVFD with the best tools available to protect us."
The department often gets called out to false alarm fires, which can be quite disruptive.
"These are all volunteers, and they're being taken away from their dinner or whatever they're doing, and sometimes it's a false call out," said Webster. "So that was one benefit, apart from stopping fires quickly. One of the other benefits they saw was they may go out to fewer calls, because they'll be able to identify whether it really is an issue or not using the technology."
Millar said while at his seasonal home on Savary last week, he and his wife smelled smoke.
"We both turned to another at the same moment, thinking, 'did you smell that?'" said Millar. "It really smelled like smoke, and this was well before the recent rain."
He said he took a walk to check out where the smell of smoke was coming from, but couldn't find anything.
"But it was pretty obvious to me that if there were a network of AI sensors connected, it could very quickly identify the source, if it was a potential wildfire situation, or a fire that's going to escalate," said Millar. "It would also identify if it was somebody having a fire in their home, in a fireplace or wood stove, or if it was a barbecue."
On August 6, the fire department, committee members and SenseNet representative Leila Verjee identified potential spots for camera sites.
"It's not concluded yet, but it seemed at the end of the meeting that the consensus was that we would need three cameras, not four, and the three would most likely be located off island, not on the island," said Webster. "The chief executive officer was showing us how it worked from his house in West Vancouver; it's really quite extraordinary."
The technology uses high-end cameras and sensors that can see and detect fire from more than 30 kilometres away. The fire stations would be hooked up to a dashboard that SIVFD members could monitor in real time.
"It takes one errant cigarette, and that's all," said Millar, about the vulnerability of fires on Savary. "The main thing is to improve firefighting outcomes, so they're able to pinpoint very quickly without having to go and sniff around to try and find the source."
To make a donation to the fundraising campaign, go to canadahelps.org/en/dn/133996 and select number three, Savary Island Early Fire Detection Technology. Each donor will receive a tax receipt.
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