Venture will advance wildfire tech

Lockheed Martin, PG&E Corp., Salesforce and Wells Fargo are teaming up to help firefighters and emergency responders prevent, detect and fight wildfires more quickly.

- BY QUEENIE WONG

THE GOAL of the new venture, Emberpoint, is “eliminating megafires.” Above, the Palisades blaze aftermath. BRIAN VANDER BRUG Los Angeles Times

(BRIAN VANDER BRUG Los Angeles Times)

On Monday, the four companies said they're forming a new venture called Emberpoint to advance technology while making wildfire prevention more affordable.

"The ultimate vision is, you know, eliminating megafires in the United States, and maybe beyond that," said Jim Taiclet, Lockheed Martin's chief executive, president and chairman, in an interview.

The Emberpoint team and its technologies will be created in the coming months and demonstrations are expected sometime this year. Wells Fargo is helping to fund the investment and partners have already committed more than $100 million to the new venture, Taiclet said.

Lockheed Martin already makes aircraft and satellites to fight wildfires, but the company has also worked on integrating data from space, ground and air to help predict where a fire might start so firefighters and helicopters can better position themselves. A lightning strike, downed power lines, improperly extinguished campfires and other events can spark wildfires. The venture's first service will focus on firefighting intelligence.