Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com
A fire detection system using artificial intelligence now monitors nearly 30% of Cyprus territory after deployment across 23 communities, providing real-time wildfire surveillance and early warning capabilities.
The FireWatch AI system operates continuously across critical areas, protecting lives, property and natural resources from fire outbreaks and spread, according to company officials.
Five Limassol district communities – Pachna, Apesia, Fini, Eptagonia and Vouni – have united to install the necessary equipment, placing scanning cameras at various community locations and establishing a monitoring centre at Pachna Community Council.
“The system monitors vast areas continuously, detecting smoke within seconds. With a system that simultaneously monitors what humans cannot, prevention reaches another level,” said Avgoustinos Hadjiyianni, operations director and trainer at Fireline company.
The monitoring centre became fully operational on 1 July, providing immediate fire recognition across the five communities and enabling rapid deployment of suppression forces, Hadjiyianni said.
The Pachna community control centre receives support from a central control centre in Paralimni with 24-hour monitoring, offering dual safety mechanisms.
“Prevention and early intervention are key – and FireWatch offers exactly that. Technology in service of communities, the environment and property,” Hadjiyianni said.
Company founder William Demetriou told Phileleftheros there was increased interest from other communities for installing the innovative fire detection system. Communities showing interest include Paralimni, Deryneia and Frenaros, along with intermediate open areas.
The cameras capture one image per minute and transmit to servers for artificial intelligence processing, enabling monitoring of thousands of points simultaneously with only one or two people in the control centre, Demetriou explained.
The system can identify precise fire coordinates without delay and “has the ability to provide even an access point for the fire engine,” Demetriou said. It prints maps similar to Google Maps showing recommended routes for fire service vehicles.
FireWatch AI has detected more than 50 fires over the past two years, with increased detections this year due to additional surveillance points, according to Demetriou.
“In 2023, during a fire in the Kelia area of Larnaca, our system was the first to notify the fire service. The next call from a citizen came almost an hour later,” he said.
The system analyses smoke colour to determine fire type, distinguishing between tyre burning, vegetation fires and other blazes, Demetriou explained.
Images are automatically deleted unless potential fire indicators are detected, respecting personal data and privacy requirements.
The monitoring centre receives funding from the European Rural Development Programme through the local LEADER programme via Limassol Development Company, in collaboration with Fireline, which specialises in fire safety and training.
“We don’t want to experience another tragedy like Arakapas,” Demetriou said, referring to previous wildfire incidents.
*This piece was written a few hours before the deadly fire in Limassol started on July 23.