SYTIS donates thermal cameras to Morro Bay Fire Department
Partnership supports early fire and marine incident detection
SYTIS, based in San Luis Obispo, California, has donated three pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) thermal cameras to the Morro Bay Fire Department.
The company said the technology aims to enhance both wildfire detection and port management across the coastal area.
SYTIS designs and manufactures thermal cameras paired with artificial intelligence (AI) software that can detect heat anomalies through clouds, rain, fog and smoke.
According to the company, the systems automatically send images and alerts to designated personnel, providing early warnings of electrical faults or potential wildfires.
Cameras deployed for wide-area monitoring
The Morro Bay Fire Department confirmed that each camera will be installed in a specific location to cover different operational needs.
A five-mile camera with a 150-millimetre lens will be mounted on the Nutmeg Street water tank to monitor vessel fires in the harbour and wildfire risks across a wide radius.
A two-mile camera with a 100-millimetre lens will be installed on a mobile trailer near the Water Resources Center.
This unit can detect a one-metre-square fire from up to five miles away.
A smaller 25-millimetre camera will be permanently fixed to a fire truck, offering real-time thermal vision and heat alerts for crews in the field.
Local fire chief welcomes new technology
Morro Bay Fire Chief Daniel McCrain said: “The Morro Bay Fire Department is excited to partner with SYTIS to enhance the safety of our citizens and visitors.
“It also adds a method for early fire detection and notification in our open space and harbour.”
SYTIS said the deployment builds on the company’s record of installations in wildfire detection zones, where its PTZ cameras have already demonstrated early warning benefits.
Industry recognition for thermal imaging innovation
In September, Ryan Severe of Puget Sound Energy received the National Safety Council’s Green Cross for Safety Innovation Award for his use of SYTIS infrared systems in wind turbine maintenance.
The company said this application enabled remote diagnostics and improved operational safety standards across the renewable energy sector.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
Thermal imaging technology such as SYTIS’s PTZ cameras is relevant to fire departments, marine safety authorities and emergency response coordinators.
For municipal fire services, the integration of fixed and mobile infrared units can improve situational awareness in both urban–wildland interfaces and industrial zones.
For port and harbour managers, the same systems offer continuous visual monitoring for vessel fires and other heat-related anomalies, especially in poor visibility.
The deployment in Morro Bay demonstrates how AI-enabled imaging tools can support early detection strategies while expanding use cases into marine environments.