As deadly wildfires sweep across Los Angeles, we are once again reminded of the destructive power of natural disasters. The fires, expected to be the costliest in U.S. history, with estimated losses very likely to exceed $50 billion, are part of a concerning pattern in the West of hotter and drier weather patterns leading to costly and destructive droughts and wildfires. Certainly, after-action analysis will show much of the scope of the disaster was avoidable.

In the last year alone, we saw more than a million acres burned across the Great Basin; 66,000 of which were in Nevada. While such a size may seem staggering, it’s dwarfed by past seasons — such as in 2017 and 2018 where more than a million acres in Nevada burned each year. As these fires grow increasingly larger and more destructive, we’re confronted with the need to take action as a state to protect Nevadans and their property from the dangers of wildfire, while proactively reducing the frequency and severity. Fire science has come a long way in prediction and suppression technologies. Thankfully, even newer technologies offer emerging solutions for adaptation and mitigation.

One such technology is artificial intelligence (AI), which is already significantly improving our ability to locate and fight fires early. From Washington state to Colorado and here in Nevada, we’ve seen the emergence of AI and IoT-powered cameras and sensors able to detect smoke and early signs of looming or initial start-ups, giving first responders more time to get to the scene and control fires before growing out of control. Having this additional time, matched with AI’s support in optimizing the dispatching of resources, could ultimately help contain fire in early stages and reduce the damage and impact on lives and property.

Meanwhile, for fires that grow out of control before being contained, the integration of AI into emergency call centers helps those affected by fires get the support they need faster. Notification, as we’ve recently seen in California, can save lives and property. Of course, nothing will replace the heroic first responders and others who keep our communities safe, but these technological advancements help give them a leg up.

Equally crucial to fighting fires is taking the steps necessary to reduce the ability to ignite and spread. In this sense, AI’s ability to rapidly synthesize and comprehend seemingly impossible quantities of data make it particularly helpful. For instance, in the field of resource management, which is vital to ensure that dry fuels don’t act as kindling, studies continue to show that machine-learning algorithms can effectively predict the areas more prone to fires — ensuring natural resource managers most efficiently allocate resources in preparation for fire season.

Technologies such as these are just a few of the many promising tools we have seen emerge in the past few years to help us adapt to the reality of longer and more destructive fire seasons. They show us that technological innovation could be the key to helping us combat the disasters created by natural shifts in the climate over time, which could help save Nevadans' and firefighters’ lives. This considerable progress is no mere accident or coincidence; it’s the result of measured, balanced lawmaking in our statehouse that has allowed AI developers to continue to explore new applications for the technology without facing the onerous burden and cost of overregulation.

For those of us in the fire community, the issue of saving firefighters’ lives is a vital concern. Annually, some 50 to 100 of our finest die in the line of duty and many are the result of uncontrolled wildland fire. If AI can help with predictive data to make these events safer, it will be welcome.

My hope is that when lawmakers return to Carson City in the coming weeks, they’ll be mindful of maintaining proper regulatory balance to promote innovation, especially as they explore ways to combat wildfires in the years to come. The recent policy and forestry management lessons learned from the experience of neighboring California should serve as a warning to Nevada’s lawmakers about the importance of getting it right.

Steve Robinson is the former state forester-fire warden for Nevada, past director of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, and former executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

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