Fighting wildfires with Big Data

The severity of wildfires in the United States is likely to triple by the end of the century, according to a new study out of the University of Alberta. That’s a long way off, but there is little question forest fires are a growing issue. The blazes can be extremely difficult to predict and prevent. Over 20 firefighters have already died this year battling wildfires from Arizona to New Jersey.

But there is some good news. Upgrades in technology – like prediction models powered by Big Data – are helping to fight the fires. CNET’s Molly Wood joins Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson to discuss.