La Selva del Camp installs pioneering thermal fire‑detection camera

The town council of La Selva del Camp in Catalonia has deployed a next‑generation thermal camera on the summit of Puig de Sant Pere. The system combines an optical lens that spots distant smoke columns with a thermal sensor that detects temperature changes within a one‑kilometre radius, operating autonomously 24 hours a day.

On its first day of service the camera identified a plume of smoke near the Macresa company, triggering an immediate alert to emergency services. Firefighters and police were able to extinguish a small vegetation fire before it spread. Mayor Enric Roberto said the technology adds a “new layer of security” and helps the municipality stay ahead of the high fire‑risk conditions that currently affect much of Catalonia.

The camera’s data are monitored directly from the town hall, and the device can automatically focus on suspected hotspots and forward alerts in real time, improving response speed for both municipal guards and forest‑fire brigades.