Satellite technology helped firefighters in El Dorado Hills quickly contain a vegetation fire that broke out in a somewhat rural area Tuesday afternoon.
Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, multiple units from the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and Cal Fire's Amador-El Dorado unit responded to a report of a vegetation fire near Ryan Ranch Road in the Latrobe community. Firefighters who arrived on scene observed a fire burning on a slope of dry vegetation in a wooded ravine in the area. Thankfully, the fire's progression did not immediately endanger any homes.
After deploying helicopter air support from the Sacramento Fire Department, firefighters were able to contain the fire to an estimated 0.25 acres. The source of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday afternoon, and firefighters are expected to remain in the field until late afternoon to ensure all hot fires and embers are fully extinguished and prevent any reignition.
According to the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Tuesday's fire was initially detected through the use of satellite technology, which has already detected several fires across the state and allowed for the creation of fire spread modeling and identification of the nearest @alertcalifornia cameras. This technology provided responding units with valuable pre-arrival data on the fire's rural location, progress and potential threat.
“Fire Integrated Real-Time Information System (FIRIS) aircraft were on alert and ready to provide real-time aerial observations to assist rescue teams,” El Dorado Hills Fire Department officials explained in an incident report. “These technologies represent a major advancement in protecting California residents from wildfires.”
Photo: El Dorado Hills Fire
