NV Energy Adds 53 Wildfire Cameras Statewide
The expansion will bring NV Energy's wildfire camera network in Nevada to 75 cameras.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Emergency Response
Live Poll
Should your utility invest more in wildfire camera monitoring?
NV Energy is nearing completion of an expansion adding 53 wildfire cameras across Nevada, which will raise its network from 22 to 75 cameras. The cameras operate around the clock and feed live views to firefighters.
Why it matters
Early detection and live visual data can help crews mobilize resources sooner when a fire starts. The expanded network extends camera coverage to areas that previously lacked it, including parts of the state east of I-80.
The count of 75 cameras reflects planned totals, and the extraction does not confirm when all installations will be live. Over 20,000 daily Watch Duty viewers during recent fires indicate significant public demand for live feeds, though the source does not report how many of those viewers were in affected areas.
The players
NV Energy
NV Energy is the primary electric utility serving much of Nevada, and it operates the wildfire camera network expanded in this effort.
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)
UNR is the public research university in Reno that partners with NV Energy on the installation and maintenance of the wildfire cameras.
Watch Duty
Watch Duty is a wildfire information app that distributes live camera feeds and fire updates to the public.
The details
Artificial intelligence monitors camera images for smoke during the day and possible heat at night, and when it flags a potential fire it alerts first responders and NV Energy. Three of the 53 additions are mobile camera trailers, and NV Energy works with the University of Nevada, Reno on installation and maintenance.
Timeline
During the Hawk Fire, camera footage helped crews mobilize resources early.
Seasonal Patterns
The expansion extends the live camera feeds that more than 20,000 people per day viewed through the Watch Duty app during the Hawk, Bug and Stallion fires. It builds on a network that already had 22 cameras before this effort.
Residents in fire-prone parts of Nevada can use publicly available camera feeds to monitor conditions near them during red-flag weather. Those in the North Valleys, identified as a priority area for coverage, should be aware that new cameras are being added there.
The takeaway
Live camera coverage shortens the time between smoke appearing and crews responding. Expanded networks like this one make early detection more widely available across the state.
Further reading
For more on how crews respond when fires start, see Emergency Response coverage across Nevada.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRXI.
Live Poll
Should your utility invest more in wildfire camera monitoring?
