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The Guardians of Curanilahue: Artificial Intelligence Helping to Prevent Forest Fires

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• Curanilahue is the first commune in Biobío to have its emergency plans approved by Senapred and now uses Artificial Intelligence to detect and combat fires in their earliest stages.

Since late January 2024, Curanilahue has operated a cutting-edge wildfire guardian system that uses Artificial Intelligence to notify heat points, smoke emissions, and the start of forest fires, among other things.

The Biobío Region has faced tough years, particularly due to wildfires. Just look at the aftermath in Santa Juana during the summer of 2023. This reality isn’t unique to Biobío, as the 2024 disaster in the Valparaíso Region reminds us that these are events to which the population remains exposed.

Curanilahue is a commune where 93% of its territory is forested, yet, not by chance, it has avoided major fires in the last two years. It is the first commune in Biobío with Senapred-approved emergency plans and now employs Artificial Intelligence to detect and combat fires in their initial minutes.

Thermal Cameras and Cutting-Edge Technology: The Guardians of Curanilahue

An innovative AI-powered monitoring system has been installed in the commune, providing real-time email alerts for temperature spikes, smoke, fire, unauthorized access to restricted areas, and vehicle movement in low-traffic hours.

This is possible thanks to a pilot program using the Cyber City software, owned by the Chinese company Dahua Technologies, which provides this information in real-time and helps anticipate potential fires without requiring a 24/7 operator.

The main camera is thermal, offering a 360-degree view with a 180-second rotation time and a detection radius of 10 kilometers, delivering both geographic positioning and video footage. The installation is managed by Grupo FVK Spa.

In case of fire, the software can simulate fire behavior—critical information for firefighters, who are already connected 24/7 to this system. As part of the pilot, municipal inspectors are equipped with body cams that activate with live footage and geolocation when deployed as an advance team to assess the alert’s severity. The software also provides real-time positioning, advising safe escape routes if trapped near flames.

Esteban Valenzuela, Minister of Agriculture: "Not only viable, but necessary"

In its first month, the pilot has shown concrete results. Esteban Valenzuela, Minister of Agriculture, stated, "Fires have decreased by 60%, and affected hectares by 90%. It works. Hopefully, we can expand this program to other municipalities and the Regional Government, naturally through a bidding process, as there are multiple efficient technologies available. It’s not just viable—it’s necessary."

"The private sector, Arauco, collaborates with Conaf. They also have a territory surveillance system, which is why we’ve reached over 90% of fires before they exceed five hectares—because AI detects smoke, provides coordinates, and activates the response," he added.

In conclusion, Valenzuela noted that AI "is proving effective, a remarkably supportive factor."

Néstor Matamala, provincial president of Arauco’s Firefighters, said, "It’s already integrated into our units. We can process the images and receive data from these cameras—it’s a huge help in preventing fires and all kinds of emergencies."

"It’s a tremendous aid for firefighters, especially in prevention. This project, developed with Dahua and the Municipality’s support, benefits the community and is something we’ll strive to implement across Arauco Province," he concluded.

Curanilahue is satisfied with the pilot. Alex Tardón Miranda, head of the Risk and Disaster Management Unit, emphasized, "We’re very pleased with this pilot, installed through a strategic alliance between the Municipality, Conaf, and China’s Dahua, enabling an early monitoring and alert system."

"Today, it’s crucial, especially against erratic threats requiring coordinated responses in the first minutes. This system helps identify wildfires early in interface zones, giving us time to activate necessary response protocols," he added.

"We believe this is a first step that will deepen over time. It means advancing in technological development," he closed.

Dahua: The Artificial Intelligence That Reached Curanilahue

Alex Zhang, General Manager of Dahua Technologies Chile, explained, "We offer a complete hardware and software solution with the world’s most advanced intelligent video surveillance analytics. In Chile, our 33-person team provides this security-focused service."

Reflecting on his experience, Zhang said, "I’ve been in Chile for five years, and each year, wildfires’ impact worries me more. That’s why I’m honored that our company is part of this Conaf-led prevention pilot."

Source:www.sabes.cl