Jackson Hole Fire/EMS in Teton County, Wyoming, has installed AI-assisted cameras that watch for wildfire smoke. Wyoming Public Media reported on September 25, 2026 that two cameras went up the month before, near Snow King Mountain and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. A third is planned near Buffalo Valley later this year.
How the cameras work
The department chose ALERTWest, partly because the camera feeds are public. Wyoming Public Media says the feeds run 24 hours a day and refresh every 15 seconds. When a camera detects a possible fire, it sends an alert to a dispatch center, where a person verifies it before responders are told.
The Jackson Hole News&Guide reported in October 2025 that researchers at UC San Diego developed the technology and that ALERTWest commercializes it. A human at an ALERTWest dispatch center checks whether a flagged image is smoke or something like fog, clouds or dust, then notifies the fire department and agencies such as the Forest Service. Fire officials told the paper the human check “cuts down on false alarms.” A competing bid was rejected because it lacked human verification.
Two price tags, one approved
The cost appears in two versions, and only one is the approved figure. Teton County commissioners unanimously approved the system for $82,632 in its first year, according to a county meeting report. The News&Guide’s earlier estimate was higher.
| Item | Commission approval (county meeting report) | Earlier estimate (News&Guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment / purchase and installation | $41,232 | $45,000 |
| First-year licensing and support / license fees | $41,400 | $45,000 |
| Total | $82,632 | $90,000 |
The commission’s $82,632 is the approved figure. The county report says staff and supporters recommended at least three cameras so the system can triangulate smoke sources. It doesn’t state the funding source or the contract term beyond year one. The News&Guide said the department planned to pay using proceeds from selling two small fire trucks it ordered but did not take delivery of.
What the cameras have done so far
Raymond Lane, deputy chief of prevention and support services, told Wyoming Public Media that the cameras caught a grass fire on private property about one minute before the 911 call came in. It was contained quickly with no damage or injuries. He said there have been no false alerts so far, and he described the cameras as “simply just another tool in the toolbox.”
Lane was candid about limits in the 2025 News&Guide report: “It’s not going to prevent any fires.” Sublette County’s deputy fire chief, who used similar cameras on the nearly 20,000-acre Dollar Lake Fire, called them “a tool” that is “not definitive, but it gives us more information.”
Why It Matters to You
If you live or hike in Teton County, the camera feeds are public, so you can look at them yourself. The aim is to spot smoke sooner and get responders moving faster, with a person checking each alert first. Two cameras are working now and a third is planned for later this year.
Where it falls short
The “one minute before 911” result is a single reported incident, relayed by a fire official. It isn’t a measured average, and one minute is a small head start. No source gives a number of confirmed detections, missed fires or false alerts, and “no false alerts so far” covers a short period. The $82,632 is a first-year cost, and we found no figure for later years. No data shows the cameras prevent losses.
Quick answers
Does a person check the AI’s alerts?
Yes. Wyoming Public Media reports that a person at a dispatch center verifies a possible fire before responders are alerted.
Can the public watch the feeds?
Yes. Both news reports say the camera feeds are public, and the department said that was part of why it chose ALERTWest.
How many cameras are there?
Two are installed, with a third planned near Buffalo Valley later this year, according to Wyoming Public Media.
Will the cameras stop wildfires?
No. The fire marshal told the News&Guide they will not prevent fires. They aim to detect fires faster.
Sources
- Wyoming Public Media: AI wildfire detection cameras in Jackson act as modern fire towers (Sep 25, 2026)
- Teton County approves AlertWest wildfire camera system with $82,632 first year cost (Oct 7; year not stated, accessed Oct 13, 2026)
- Jackson Hole News&Guide: Aiming to identify wildfires early, Jackson Hole Fire/EMS buys three AI detection cameras (Oct 10, 2025)