New satellite technology in orbit will help detect wildfires across the globe

A satellite specifically designed to detect new wildfires around the globe is now in orbit. Within the next five years, 49 others will join it.Known as “FireSats”, these uniquely outfitted satellites will circle the planet as a constellation, providing updates on every wildfire on Earth every 20 minutes. A relatively new non-profit called the Earth Fire Alliance is spearheading the FireSat project. The global group was officially founded just over one year ago. The satellites themselves are being developed and operated by a Bay Area space technology company Muon Space.Earth Fire Alliance’s executive director Brian Collins says the group was officially founded just over one year ago. Their mission: to change the way we observe and track wildfire growth and intensity. “One of the most critical gaps that we have is understanding how fire moves on the landscape,” said Collins. Those gaps can cost firefighters and communities precious time. And when it comes to protecting lives and property, the most important time for action is the first few hours of a new fire. Currently, weather satellites can be used to track wildfire growth, but not until a fire becomes very large and intense. FireSats have the bandwidth to detect a low intensity fire that’s about the size of a classroom and keep eyes on it more frequently. “We also designed the system to be able to look through smoke, to do it day and night and to pick up those small fires at a repeat level,” Collins said. Data from these satellites will be provided to agencies like Cal Fire to help field crews learn and plan for next steps in a major wildfire. | MORE | Cal Fire prepares for peak wildfire season in CaliforniaArtificial intelligence will also be used to sift through the satellites’ findings to uncover new patterns that could improve wildfire models. “We will learn things from this data that we did not even expect to learn. And the large amount of data we collect will also allow us the opportunity to use machine learning to learn things that we may not know about wildland fire,” said Collins.The single satellite that is currently in orbit can provide updates on a specific fire every 12 hours. Next month, three more satellites will launch and tail the first satellite, providing new images of a fire every 30 minutes with each pass around the globe.The Earth Fire Alliance is financially partnered with Google and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The Environmental Defense Fund also supports the Earth Fire Alliance and its projects.Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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