Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has deployed a satellite-based fire detection and alert system to help the utility detect potential fires within its sprawling service territory in California.

Wildfires in recent years have been linked to PG&E equipment and have resulted in dozens of deaths and extensive property damage. Earlier in 2019, the utility filed for bankruptcy reorganization and cited potential fire-related liabilities of around $30 billion.

(Read "Equipment was 'probable' cause of deadly California fire, utility says.")

The utility said its Satellite Fire Detection and Alerting System incorporates data from two new GOES satellites, as well as three polar orbiting satellites, to provide PG&E with advanced warning of potential new fire incidents. The satellites are operated by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service division.

The PG&E Meteorology Team led development of the program in collaboration with satellite fire detection experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center. The system became fully operational in late June.

Once the fire detection and monitoring algorithm detects a possible fire's heat signature, an alert is generated and made available to analysts in the utility's Wildfire Safety Operations Center. They then use other data, such as wildfire alert cameras or information from external agencies, to confirm if there is fire in the area and its proximity to any infrastructure.

Heat map

The application displays possible fires on an interactive map, which also allows users to track the general spread and intensity of fires in near real-time as the data are refreshed every 60 seconds. The system also generates new fire alerts via email and on an app. The utility said the system has already detected hundreds of fires since it began limited operation in February.

If a fire is detected from two or more satellites, then confidence is high of an actual fire in the area. In many cases this system is expected to provide an early, if not the first, indication of an incident.

The utility said it also conducts aerial patrols during fire season, and operates a network of weather stations and high-definition cameras to improve its ability to predict and respond to elevated wildfire danger.

By the end of 2019, PG&E said it plans to have at least 600 weather stations and 100 high-definition cameras in high fire-threat areas.