Guiyang advanced tech system enhances forest fire protection

Guiyang has 87 remote video monitoring points that operate 24/7 to monitor forest areas. Each point covers a range of 3 to 5 kilometers, overseeing approximately 20 percent of the city's forested regions.

At the Guiyang Forest Fire Prevention Control Center in Changpo Ridge Forest Park, large screens display real-time data from key fire prevention zones across the city. The remote video monitoring system is programmed to automatically trigger alerts when signs of smoke or fire are detected.

Guiyang has applied for major ecological protection and restoration projects to improve its forest fire prevention capabilities. In 2022, the second phase of Guiyang's High-Risk Forest Fire Zone Comprehensive Management Project was approved, with a total investment of 54.08 million yuan ($7.6 million).

"With this funding, we will fully upgrade the remote video monitoring system," said Li Guannan, deputy director of Guiyang Forest Fire Prevention Control Center. He emphasized that early detection and quick response are crucial to forest fire prevention, and greater use of technology is essential.

Guiyang plans to add 80 more remote video monitoring systems to address the blind spots not yet covered by the existing 87 systems. These new installations will directly pinpoint the locations of smoke and suspected fire points, enhancing verification and response efficiency.

This year, Guiyang also gained approval for the Forest Fire Emergency Road Construction Project, receiving a total investment of 46.88 million yuan. This project will build 75 kilometers of fire emergency roads in six districts and counties of Guiyang, as well as two State-owned forest farms.

Once completed, these new roads will integrate with existing forest roads to form a well-planned network, strengthening Guiyang's forest fire prevention barrier system.