AlertWildfire founder urges California homeowners to prepare as fall fire season intensifies

As California enters the fall wildfire season, a wildfire expert is urging residents in fire-prone areas to take steps to protect their homes, warning that strong winds, low humidity and flying embers can turn a small fire into a major disaster.Graham Kent, creator of the AlertWildfire camera network, compares the fall fire season to a high-stakes penalty shootout, when the margin for error is slim."The fall is kind of the penalty kick stage of wildfire, so at that point, it's kind of a different game," Kent said.Kent said the combination of seasonal weather conditions can make fall particularly dangerous for wildfires."It's that cocktail of everything that you don't want," he said.The AlertWildfire camera network gives firefighters panoramic views of fire-prone areas across the state. The cameras can rotate to provide a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, while artificial intelligence helps identify potential fire starts.What was once considered a groundbreaking tool in the