Ring launches Fire Watch feature aimed at early wildfire detection

HAWTHORNE, Ca. (KTVZ) -- As Central Oregon heads toward wildfire season, a new tool from Ring aims to give homeowners, renters and first responders an earlier heads-up when flames spark nearby.

Ring, the company known for its smart doorbell cameras, has introduced “Fire Watch,” a feature in its app designed to detect signs of fire and smoke near users’ homes and send real-time alerts.

The feature was developed in partnership with Watch Duty, a nonprofit that provides real-time public safety updates during wildfires. Using artificial intelligence, Fire Watch analyzes video from outdoor Ring cameras to identify potential fire activity and quickly share that information with emergency responders.

The goal is to provide early warnings that could help slow the spread of wildfires and reduce damage, especially in high-risk areas like Central Oregon.

Fire Watch is available to Ring users with outdoor cameras through the Ring app. The feature also allows customers to play a voluntary role during wildfire events by sharing visual information from their neighborhoods when it may be helpful to first responders.

With wildfire risk increasing across the West, tools that offer faster detection and community-based information sharing could become an important part of early response efforts.