Author Topic: AlertTahoe - new Fire Warning Cameras  (Read 1313 times)

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Offline W3DRM

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AlertTahoe - new Fire Warning Cameras
« on: June 30, 2015, 06:42:10 PM »
A new webcam service (Fire Cam) has been created that is designed to increase the visibility of fires in the SIERRA around Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley in Nevada. There are currently five cameras scattered on the peaks around Lake Tahoe and north of Carson City. In fact, one of the cameras detected the initial smoke plume from the Washington fire, currently burning in the SIERRA south of Markleeville, Ca, an hour before it was reported. Unfortunately, no one was looking at the cameras at the time so it went undetected. That fire, as of this morning, is now at 17,787 acres and is 56% contained. We've had a lot of smoke here in the Carson Valley from that fire but it has slowly dissipated over the past few days.

To make this project more successful, they are opening-up the weblinks to these cameras to the public. The hope is that by using the "crowd-sourcing" methodology someone, literally anywhere in the world, may just be looking at the cameras and see a wisp of smoke and report it to the authorities. An hour's jump on a forest fire can mean the difference between early control and a major conflagration that causes untold damage and potential loss of life and property.
The website also links to Earthquakes in the area. Clicking on the Map tab shows the current and future goals of the project. When completed, they will have 15 Fire Cameras throughout the area.

If nothing else, these cameras are a great source of photos of the Lake Tahoe area. So, click away and enjoy the views!
« Last Edit: June 30, 2015, 06:44:09 PM by W3DRM »
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