California’s fight against wildfires is reaching into space.
Three new satellites designed to detect wildfires from orbit have successfully launched, marking the beginning of a new technology system that could help fire agencies identify and respond to fires faster. The project, known as FireSat, was developed through a partnership involving the Earth Fire Alliance, CAL FIRE, Muon Space, Google, and other partners.
The satellites are the first step toward a planned network of more than 50 satellites that will monitor wildfire activity around the globe. Once fully operational, FireSat is expected to provide updated observations every 20 minutes or less and detect fires as small as about 5 by 5 meters.
For California firefighters, where quick detection can make the difference between a small fire and a major wildfire, the technology could provide another layer of information during the critical early stages of an incident.
CAL FIRE said the agency helped test and evaluate the early concepts behind FireSat and continues working with the Earth Fire Alliance and technology partners as the system moves forward.
The newly launched satellites will spend the next several months in a commissioning and calibration phase before beginning to deliver wildfire data to fire agencies.
The satellites were launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-17 rideshare mission. The project is designed specifically for wildfire detection, using satellite-based sensors to provide firefighters with more timely information about where fires start and how they develop.
CAL FIRE officials say FireSat is another tool in the growing effort to improve wildfire response and protect communities, lives, and natural resources as California continues to face increasingly challenging fire seasons.
