Photo: Ford, Brad
For the first time, anyone can access Portland General Electric’s wildfire camera network, used by emergency management and firefighting agencies, to stay informed about potential fire risks, make timely safety decisions, and continue to collaborate on fire prevention efforts. PGE has opened a public portal to its wildfire monitoring camera network that provides 24/7 visual observation of the landscape in and around Portland.
Public users can search, view and interact with cameras strategically positioned across PGE’s service area. The camera network maintains observation of PGE infrastructure in high fire risk areas as far south as Latgawa Mountain in Jackson County and as far north as Bald Hill near Scappoose.
“Opening public access to the real-time feeds for everyone is one of the ways we can help people plan for and make important decisions during potential emergency situations,” said Ben Felton, PGE executive vice president and chief operating officer. “PGE plans and prepares year-round to prevent wildfires, and this camera network is an important tool in our toolkit.”
The camera network supports wildfire prevention efforts by alerting PGE and public safety partners to potential wildfire ignitions – often advancing response time by hours. More than 215 users from 50 agencies, including fire, emergency management and communications, across PGE’s service area are actively using this network.
“The wildfire monitoring cameras have been a game-changer for wildfire response. They’ve helped us quickly detect and locate fires—like a 2023 lightning start in the Bull Run Watershed—and verify 911 calls during high-demand periods. This technology allows us to respond faster and more accurately,” said Brent Olson, Clackamas Fire District #1 division chief.
Emergency response organizations access an enhanced set of tools through the camera network, combining live visual feeds with additional data streams to improve situational awareness and support wildfire planning and response. For example, when the cameras detect smoke or fire activity, agency users receive notifications with the incident’s location and direct links to live camera feeds and functionality, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
“Wildfire is a growing concern for the communities we serve around the Forest,” said Gar Abbas, Mt. Hood National Forest acting supervisor. “Using innovative ways to detect and respond to new fire starts is essential – tools like the wildfire monitoring cameras can be key in helping us protect people and the places they care about.”
PGE began installing the cameras in 2021 to better keep communities safe through smoke and fire detection and early alert warnings to first responders. PGE’s network, powered by artificial intelligence, has now grown to almost 40 cameras around Portland and surrounding areas.
The camera network automates fire detection, awareness and notifications through real-time visual intelligence, AI-driven detection, and third-party data streams. This critical information allows PGE and partners to proactively manage wildfire risks and enable a faster response by emergency management agencies. Learn more about the camera network at portlandgeneral.wildfirewatch.com.
Source: Portland General Electric