Fast and effective detection is a key factor in wildfire fighting . Early detection efforts were focused on early response , accurate results in both daytime and nighttime , and the ability to prioritize fire danger . Fire lookout towers were used in the United States in the early 20th century and fires were reported using telephones , carrier pigeons , and heliographs . Aerial and land photography using instant cameras were used in the 1950s until infrared scanning was developed for fire detection in the 1960s . However , information analysis and delivery was often delayed by limitations in communication technology . Early satellite-derived fire analyses were hand-drawn on maps at a remote site and sent via overnight mail to the fire manager . During the Yellowstone fires of 1988 , a data station was established in West Yellowstone , permitting the delivery of satellite-based fire information in approximately four hours
Yellowstone fires of 1988
Yellowstone fires of 1988
Wildfire