New Mexico wildfire detection camera network (Pano AI) — pilot awarded, expansion pending

Buyer: New Mexico Forestry Division (EMNRD)

Awardee

Pano AI source ↗

Details

The EMNRD Forestry Division holds an existing contract with Pano AI, administered through the New Mexico Department of Information Technology, under which it invested roughly $300,000 to deploy 11 AI wildfire-detection camera systems between Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the Manzano Mountains (announced November 12, 2025). Statewide there are roughly 50 camera sites, but those span two vendors (Pano AI and AlertWest) plus utility-owned installations by PNM and SPS, not all EMNRD. In May 2026 the legislature approved a one-year special appropriation to expand coverage in high-risk areas; State Forester Laura McCarthy's agency was still designing that contract, and no expansion award or vendor selection had been made as of mid-2026.

The record as written conflated an unawarded future expansion with an award. Status 'Awarded' and awardee 'Pano AI' are only correct for the existing ~$300K / 11-camera pilot, not for the expansion the title describes. EMNRD declined The New Mexican's request for the current Pano AI contract document, so the $300,000 figure is reported investment, not a contract face value. The ~50-site figure previously in the description overstated EMNRD's own footprint.

Source

Official solicitation / award →