More Cameras on California Mountain Peaks to Boost Fire Protection

San Diego County, Calif. authorities say new high-definition cameras will be installed on mountain peaks to bolster fire protection, and an existing computer network that links fire stations throughout the region will be upgraded.

The Union-Tribune reports officials want to boost by five the number of cameras that use an established network that allows firefighting agencies to closely monitor remote areas.

The newspaper says when last month’s 4,100-acre Lilac fire erupted, several such cameras were able to capture what was happening and help guide firefighters’ response.

County supervisors last week approved spending $437,000 to add the new cameras and to upgrade the bandwidth of the computer network.

The system is the result of a partnership between the county, UC San Diego and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.