Google is looking to help people deal with wildfires. The company announced on The Keyword that it is adding a wildfire boundary map in Search and Maps SOS alerts in the US.
For anyone living in an area that’s prone to wildfires, this update could be a real lifesaver. At the very least, it should help you avoid areas that are currently ablaze.
Google has made it incredibly easy to find information about wildfires within search. All you need to do is search for anything related to a wildfire, and the results will automatically include the approximate boundaries of the fire. For example, you could search for “California wildfires” or “Kincade fire” to learn the location of the fire and how much area it’s covering.
Outside of the boundaries, a search for a specific wildfire will also show the name and location of the fire, news articles, and helpful resources that could be incredibly important for anyone in the immediate area of the fire.
The helpful wildfire features aren’t just limited to search, though. Google is adding features to Maps that could also help save lives. The company will show lots of information including the fire boundary. Additionally, you can receive warnings if you’re approaching an active blaze. If that alert pops up, not only will it steer you away, but it’ll also provide lots of useful information about the fire.
Google has already put this data to the test with first responders in areas prone to fires. The company collaborated with organizations like the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Boulder’s Office of Emergency Management.
This certainly isn’t the only change Google has rolled out to Maps recently. While the other changes might not save any lives, they’re still quite useful.
With as popular as Maps is, it only makes sense for Google to keep evolving it with new features and improvements.