[yoo1I]

> hose are probably the last 10 remaining.

Towers to watch for wildfires are still in use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_lookout_tower

[ekianjo]

That is the starting point of the game Firewatch, by the way:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewatch

[kijin]

This looks like a job that could be replaced fairly easily with pattern-recognition software connected to infrared sensors and a satellite uplink. If a potential wildfire is detected, the system could send a drone to the location to confirm.

[XaspR8d]

True, though having a human posted in remote locations has additional benefits, like assisting folks who are lost / injured.

[yoo1I]

Sans the drone (at least as far as my knowledge on the matter goes ,which is not very far) they already do this and the maps are freely available:

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/

[kbmarks]

I would hope that such software is used for car alarms in order to get the false positive rate from 99.99% to perhaps 80%.

Drones are also loud, which has a cost for every false positive.