A new camera system only detects the ultraviolet (UV) light of flames. This development means automatic detection of forest fires and quicker response.
Forest fires are a large and worsening problem worldwide. Not only did they cause over 3 000 deaths in Europe in 2007 alone, they cost developed countries affected by them approximately 1 % of their gross domestic products (GDPs). Fires also cause about 20 % of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.