Oklahoma Firefighters Utilize AI to Detect Wildfires Faster

New camera system alerts crews to fires in real-time, allowing for quicker response times.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Oklahoma firefighters are using an AI-powered camera system from Pano AI to detect wildfires and respond more quickly. The 360-degree rotating cameras instantly alert fire departments when smoke is detected, providing a live feed and map of the fire's location. This technology is especially helpful in rural areas and at night when fires may go unnoticed, enabling crews to get resources on-site faster and prevent the flames from spreading out of control.

Why it matters

Wildfires are a major threat in Oklahoma, where high winds can rapidly push flames across dry terrain. This new AI-based detection system allows firefighters to get a jump on fires before they grow out of hand, potentially saving lives, property, and natural resources.

The details

The Pano AI camera system has been installed throughout Cleveland County, with the alerts routed to a human intelligence center that verifies the fire and immediately notifies fire agencies and utility partners. The technology includes privacy protections, pixelating homes and other private infrastructure so no raw images are ever accessed. Norman Fire Department Deputy Chief Joel Chesser says the system has already proven valuable, detecting a hay bale fire an hour and a half before it was reported through 911 dispatches.

  • Pano AI has been operating for about 5 years, starting in the western U.S. before expanding to Oklahoma and Texas.
  • The company currently has about 7 stations and 14 agencies using its technology in Oklahoma.

The players

Pano AI

A technology company that provides an AI-powered camera system to detect wildfires and alert fire departments.

Joel Chesser

Deputy Chief of the Norman Fire Department, which is utilizing the Pano AI technology.

Ben Hanson

Vice President of Sales at Pano AI.

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What they’re saying

“As soon as they spot fire, the alert is instantly routed to our human intelligence center, where that's validated and then sent directly to the fire agencies and any utility partners that might need that, that information.”

— Ben Hanson, Vice President of Sales (kfor.com)

“Our assistant chiefs can be watching this and live time and say, hey, this is just a little fire, and no, this is really growing, this is big. We need a lot more resources headed to this location.”

— Joel Chesser, Deputy Chief (kfor.com)

“Everybody's familiar with the stuff that happened in Woodward last week, and you saw how quickly fire moves. The faster that we can get resources there and get that water on the fire, you know, it slows stuff down this time of year with the wind blowing in Oklahoma like it is. We've got to get there quick, and we've got to start making some headway, or these things can get out of control very fast.”

— Joel Chesser, Deputy Chief (kfor.com)

What’s next

Pano AI plans to continue expanding its AI-powered wildfire detection system to more fire departments across Oklahoma and Texas.

The takeaway

This new AI technology is a game-changer for Oklahoma firefighters, giving them the ability to spot wildfires early and respond faster, which is crucial in a state prone to fast-moving blazes driven by high winds. By getting resources on-site quicker, crews can stop fires from spiraling out of control and causing catastrophic damage.