Russia Deploys AI-Driven Forest Monitoring to Combat Wildfires

A new surveillance system in the Orenburg region tracks fire threats in real time, giving first responders a crucial edge.

In Russia’s Orenburg region, the wildfire season has officially begun and will continue until autumn rains or the onset of sustained subzero temperatures. Local authorities are urging residents and businesses to follow fire safety regulations, noting that most fires are human-caused.

To respond more effectively, the region is using a digital surveillance system called Lesookhranitel (Forest Protector). Nineteen cameras, mounted on cell towers, provide 24/7 coverage of vulnerable forested areas and stream footage to regional dispatch centers and forestry units. Each camera monitors a 40-kilometer radius. When heat signatures are detected, the system immediately relays GPS coordinates to firefighting crews.

Currently, the system covers the most fire-prone zones, but plans are underway to expand it to the entire state-owned forest area. Tech-driven initiatives like Lesookhranitel are boosting the region’s ability to detect wildfires early and limit their impact on ecosystems and communities.