The expediency of using artificial intelligence has been repeatedly confirmed by successful practical solutions in various fields of human activity, including in the field of security. The article considers the possibility of creating a distributed artificial intelligence system designed to prevent spontaneous combustion of coal in the places of its extraction, storage, transportation, as well as processing or burning. The system is a software and hardware complex, which includes research laboratories, equipment manufacturers and protected facilities. The algorithm of operation of both the system as a whole and its individual elements is proposed. The algorithm of operation of individual elements is based on the design of a specialized fire detector developed and patented by the authors and in accordance with the laws of the development of the processes of selfheating and spontaneous combustion of coal.