As devastating wildfires raged across California, a specialized unit of young Israeli soldiers working from the Home Front Command headquarters provided vital data analysis that proved instrumental in saving lives and protecting property.
The global time difference transformed into a strategic advantage: during American nighttime hours, Israeli analysts conducted comprehensive data processing and prepared detailed operational assessments for the next day's firefighting efforts.
"We developed a specialized daily portal for all American forces in the field," Captain Keren who heads research and data at the Home Front Command's Operations Branch explained. "We successfully integrated extensive data sets – consolidating all wildfire information in a single platform. This included detailed mapping of fire zones, educational facilities, and power infrastructure. When the Israeli firefighting delegation arrived on site, they presented American forces with the comprehensive collected data, enabling strategic decision-making."
The Operations Branch, established in 2018 under the leadership of then-Home Front Command commander Tamir Yadai, comprises several dozen soldiers, predominantly between 18 and 21 years old. They represent Israel's technological vanguard in data analytics, employing artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies to support field operations.
"Our only requirement is a single ground contact who understands our capabilities and information needs," Lieutenant Colonel Yosef Salem, head of data at the Home Front Command said. "Our command center team expertly translates all field information into data systems using pioneering technology."
"Our effectiveness in fire management was significantly enhanced by the time zone difference between Israel and the United States," Salem, who accompanied the Israeli firefighting delegation to California, noted. "We operated during Israel's daylight hours, corresponding to nighttime in the United States. American teams would begin each day with comprehensive situation assessments we had prepared during their overnight hours."
The unit implements an innovative dual-team approach – combining frontline personnel who identify immediate needs with a sophisticated command center team that analyzes data and develops solutions. "We deploy to various emergency scenarios, from pandemics to floods, building collapses, and hurricanes," Lieutenant Colonel Salem explained. "Our first step is comprehensive situation assessment. The field team operates directly at the disaster site, conducting real-time analysis, while the command center team processes and analyzes the data they receive."
"While the United States possesses significant technological capabilities, the crucial elements of emergency decision-making, information accessibility, and inter-force coordination remain challenging for many international emergency organizations," Captain Keren explained. "They haven't yet reached the technological frontier where Israel excels and has valuable expertise to share."
The Israeli model has demonstrated its effectiveness both internationally and domestically, proving crucial during military operations like "Breaking Dawn" and "Shield and Arrow," as well as civilian emergencies. "We have concrete evidence of lives saved in the United States," Keren recounted. "Upon arrival, we encountered massive disorder – evacuees without shelter, food, or sleeping arrangements. The scale of the emergency was immense.
"The Home Front Command's mission is to protect civilians in crisis situations, both in Israel and globally," Captain Keren concluded. "We are trailblazers with significant capabilities to share."
