Pegasus Aviación taps up LiveU to improve airborne firefighting services

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Spanish firm Pegasus Aviación has tied up LiveU to help its firefighting services, using the company’s mission-critical IP bonding solutions to provide live streamed images and internet sourcing coverage from difficult environments where connectivity is scarce.

Pegasus Aviación, also operates in Portugal, Italy, Chile and Uruguay, is the parent company of Pegasus Aero Group, a 100% Spanish-owned aeronautical group with over 50 years of experience in the aeronautical field, providing a wide range of services to public and private clients.

Currently, a key objective within the company’s strategic plan is the technological modernisation of the fleet. José Antonio Rodríguez, head of projects, planning and support at Pegasus said: “Our expertise is founded on the provision of training, maintenance and operation of aircraft in emergency environments – mainly forest fires – and the rescue of people on land and at sea. Today, we face the challenge of optimising these operations using on-board technology, for which we were looking for options that could provide us with greater connectivity in environments with poor coverage. That’s where our journey with LiveU began.”

LiveU’s technology, widely used in the broadcast and video streaming sector for all types of live image capture and transmission, is based on IP bonding, a technology that LiveU pioneered and is a market leader in the industry.

This underlying technology facilitates the bonding of bandwidth from multiple cellular networks, the main examples being mobile and WiFi, to create real-time broadband connectivity. This means that connectivity can be achieved in remote locations, and on the move, where other technologies would normally fail, enabling not only high-quality live video streaming but also internet connectivity for other data services. Individual field units, containing the multiple modems required, can be carried in a backpack, or installed in an aircraft, subject to the approved specifications of the relevant aeronautical authorities.

Pegasus Aviation is currently using many LiveU’s LU300 compact field units in its helicopters to enhance its imaging services in Chile and Spain. These can be controlled by Pegasus Aviación through LiveU’s cloud-based management system, LiveU Central. It also uses LiveU’s DataBridge technology to access high-speed internet while the aircraft are in flight.

Rodríguez added: “This technology greatly enhances the information we can obtain from our operations, allowing us to capture live video images from places where it was previously unfeasible. These real-time images play an important role for our customers, allowing emergency managers to make decisions with fresh information from the field. LiveU is an important technological step forward for us and we are looking to expand its use in the other countries we serve through our fleet of over 130 aircraft.”

Jean-Christophe Albou, Sales Director, France and Southern Europe, LiveU, said: “We have always known that our technology has great potential beyond its use in broadcast and streaming verticals and we’re now seeing its use grow in emergency services and first responder sectors. This is a prime example and we’re very proud to see it helping in such a vital industry.”

NFPA releases Fifth U.S. Needs Assessment report

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its Fifth U.S. Needs Assessment report, which found that while some fire department needs have declined, some unmet needs have remained constant, and many areas have increased need. This includes aging facilities and apparatus, a lack of behavioral health and safety programs, and challenges in providing training and certification for structural firefighting and other community needs.

Published every five years since 2001, the U.S. Needs Assessment report reflects the results of a survey sent to most U.S. fire departments. The survey includes a broad range of questions that work to identify where U.S. fire departments are experiencing gaps in equipment, staffing, and training, among other needs and resources.

The latest Needs Assessment report underscores that the roles and responsibilities of fire departments continue to expand with no sign of stopping. From wildland urban interface (WUI) fires and active shooter incidents to hazardous materials response and traffic control duties, fire departments are being asked to do more and more, but in many cases, without the resources to support those expectations.

“Firefighters are engaged in an ever-expanding scope of activities and are responding to new emergencies on a continual basis,” said Ben Evarts, data collection and research manager at NFPA. “The first responder role that firefighters played on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic reflects just one recent example of the myriad ways fire departments are relied upon to protect and serve their communities.”

Evarts points out that while some fire department needs are being addressed, challenges remain across the board. Following are some of the key findings from the November 2021 report:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic made personal protective equipment (PPE) a part of the global lexicon, but it also uncovered challenges: lack of availability, price scalping, and counterfeit PPE. These issues have put the health of firefighters at risk as communities struggle through a supply chain under immense pressure. Nearly half (47 percent) of all departments still had unmet needs for medical PPE at the time they completed the survey (between September 2020 and February 2021).
  • Staffing remains a constant need for all fire departments, regardless of career, combination, or volunteer status. Since 2015, most fire departments have seen flat firefighter staffing levels.
  • Maintaining fire department infrastructure has proven a daunting task for many departments and is compounded by the need for modern facilities that meet today’s fire service missions. Examples of infrastructure challenges include design considerations that minimise exposures for firefighters, private or separate facilities for men and women, and backup power systems.
  • Protecting firefighters’ own health and safety remains a pressing challenge, with the majority of fire departments (72 percent) lacking programs to maintain basic firefighter fitness and health. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of all fire departments do not have behavioral health programs. Of those that do, 90 percent offer post-traumatic stress support; and just one third (34 percent) have relationships with behavioral specialists.

“Findings from the latest U.S. Needs Assessment report are critically important for NFPA, other fire service organisations and decision-makers collectively working to better understand where issues exist among fire departments serving all sizes, populations, and demographics, and to make decisions based on those realities,” said Evarts. “Our hope is that these findings also serve as a critical reminder to the public at large about all firefighters do to keep their communities safe, the risks they take in the process, and the support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Previous Needs Assessment reports included additional state-level reporting; NFPA will be working in the coming months to produce these types of reports for selected states.

Additional information, including access to previous U.S. Needs Assessment reports, can be accessed online at www.nfpa.org/needsassessment.

City of Rancho Cucamonga, California purchases electric fire truck from Rosenbauer

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Rancho Cucamonga Fire District have announced they have purchased a Rosenbauer RT electric fire truck. The RT is the first fire truck to incorporate an all-electric drivetrain that eliminates the engine, transmission, and drivelines typically found in a traditional apparatus.

The RT was purchased through Velocity Fire Equipment & Sales, which represents Rosenbauer in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Rancho Cucamonga now joins the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD), who was the first department in North America to purchase an all-electric fire truck. LAFD will place their RT in service early next year.  Worldwide, there are three RT’s in service; Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai. 

Rancho Cucamonga Fire District’s relationship with Rosenbauer started in 2015 with the purchase of a Rosenbauer 100’ Viper Tractor Drawn Aerial.  Additionally, Rancho Cucamonga has purchased a Rosenbauer Custom Pumper and a Heavy-Duty Rescue.

“The RT is North America’s first all-electric apparatus and boasts a high level of safety, excellent driving dynamics and maneuverability, innovative safety features, and is fully networked,” said Todd McBride, RT Sales and Marketing Manager for Rosenbauer America. “These features and more make the RT the most modern emergency vehicle on the market and sets an entirely new standard within the fire industry.” 

Rancho Cucamonga’s Rosenbauer RT fire truck will feature:

·       1500 GPM Rosenbauer pump

·       550-gallon water tank

·       Revolutionary Open Crew Cab with Command Center

·       (2) 66 kW hour batteries – 132 kW total with a Backup Diesel Range Extender for uninterrupted extended operations

·       Adjustable height suspension including off-road mode and flood mode that allows the vehicle to operate in up to 3 feet of flood waters

·       All Wheel Drive & All Wheel Steering – including counter steering and crab steering mode

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District is taking active steps towards a sustainable future by becoming one of the first agencies in California to purchase an electric fire engine.” said Fire Chief Ivan Rojer with the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District.  “As the City updates its General Plan, the Fire District is committed to contributing to a healthier community by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and embracing clean vehicle technology. This fire engine supports the City Council’s vision to build on our success as a world class community, to create an equitable, sustainable, and vibrant city, rich in opportunity for all to thrive.”

Environmental benefits of the RT include:

  • Electric and long-lasting – The RT has a charging capacity of up to 150 kW, which means that the built-in batteries can be recharged quickly. Short-range operations are not a problem, even when used frequently in large metropolitan cities. Due to the built-in range extender, the RT can extend its electrical driving range and pumping operations. The range extender comprises of a small diesel engine powering a large generator, without any limitations.
  • Reduced emissions – The RT’s electric drive is not only extremely powerful, but also noise emission-free. This greatly reduces the noise level at the scene of the emergency, making it easier for the crew to communicate, reducing stress, and benefiting nearby residents.
  • Flexible and versatile vehicle – The RT is conceived as a multipurpose vehicle, a pumper first and foremost, a connected mobile command unit, and a vehicle for assistance in wildland fires. This in part due to its adjustable ride height and crew cabin concept with its rotating front seats.

To learn more about the Rosenbauer RT, visit https://www.rosenbauer.com/en/int/rosenbauer-world/vehicles/municipal-vehicles/rt

NFPA releases Fire Loss in the U.S report findings

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released findings from its latest “Fire Loss in the U.S.” report, which shows that the total number of U.S. fires overall rose eight percent from 2019 to 2020. While some year-to-year fluctuation is normal, this increase reflects a far from typical year due to the pandemic.

“In 2020, more people were working and studying at home, commuting far less, and spending more time socialising outside,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “It appears that the fires followed these shifts.”

According to the report, which provides a broad overview of how, when, and where U.S. fires occur and their impact on life and property, residential structure fires rose five percent from 2019 to 2020, while non-residential structure fires fell eight percent. Highway vehicle fires fell nine percent; outside and other fires rose 17 percent. Civilian deaths and injuries fell six percent and eight percent, respectively.

Over the long-term, much progress has been made in reducing the U.S. fire problem. The estimated total of fires was 54 percent lower in 2020 than in 1980, while fire death and injury estimates were 46 percent and 50 percent lower, respectively, over the same period. Because the U.S. population has grown since 1980, population-based rates have dropped even more than the estimates have.

“Overall, we’ve seen significant declines in the total number of fires and fire deaths over the past 40 years. That’s the good news,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “At the same time, most of the reduction in reported fires and fire losses occurred more than a decade ago. There is still more work to do, particularly around home fires.”

The report notes that less progress has been made in preventing fire deaths and injuries associated with reported home fires; three-quarters (74 percent) of all U.S. fire deaths occur in homes. The rate of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 reported home fires was almost identical to the rate of 7.1 in 1980.

“While home fires are happening less often, when they do occur, people are struggling to escape safely,” said Carli. “These findings reinforce the critical importance of better educating the public about how fast today’s home fires grow and spread, how little time they have to escape from the time the smoke alarm sounds, and the know-how to use that time wisely in the event of a home fire.”

Key findings from the report include the following:

  • Overall, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1,388,500 fires in 2020, resulting in 3,500 civilian deaths, 15,200 civilian injuries and $21.9 billion in direct property damage.
  • Every 23 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire somewhere in the nation.
  • A fire occurs in a structure at the rate of one every 64 seconds, and a home fire occurs every 89 seconds.
  • The death rate per 1,000 reported one- or two-family home fires was 16 percent higher than in 1980, while the comparable rate for apartment fires was 43 percent lower.
  • Sixty-four percent of all U.S. home fire deaths occurred in one- or two-family homes; the other 10 percent occurred in apartments or other multi-family housing.
  • Eighteen percent of fire deaths were caused by vehicle fires.

IAFC-VCOS and NVFC release report update to reduce occupational cancer risks

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The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have released an update to the Lavender Ribbon Report that provides 11 best practices for reducing exposure risks and preventing occupationally caused cancer in firefighters. The new Lavender Ribbon Report Update includes additional information, essays, articles, research, and ideas for successfully implementing the best practices.

Cancer is a leading health risk facing firefighters, largely due to the chemicals and carcinogens they are exposed to while on the job. In 2018, VCOS and the NVFC released the original Lavender Ribbon Report to provide specific actions that firefighters can take to protect themselves and their team from these risks. The Lavender Ribbon Report Update takes things a step further by sharing personal stories, examples of how departments are implementing the best practices, and other information to reinforce the actions firefighters need to take to lessen their exposure risks.

“The risks we face aren’t going anywhere, and we can’t remain stagnant in addressing this critical health and safety issue,” said Chief Brian McQueen, chair of the NVFC’s cancer subcommittee and co-author of both the Lavender Ribbon Report and the Lavender Ribbon Report Update. “This new release will equip firefighters with further tools and knowledge so they can successfully implement the best practices, along with motivation for why it is so urgent that we take action now. Don’t let this document sit on the shelf – use it so that we can prevent the tragedy of firefighter cancer.”

Chief John M. Buckman III, VCOS educational coordinator, commented, “The VCOS hopes that all public safety personnel will read both the original Lavender Ribbon Report and this updated version. Firefighter health and wellness, especially occupational cancer, must be a top priority and is a continuous process that requires strong leadership and commitment to take the right actions. This updated report is designed to reignite the passion for helping firefighters protect themselves from carcinogen exposure. This is a large document and will require significant individual and organizational commitment. Don’t let its size stop you from using each piece to improve your organization.”

Studies show that firefighters have higher rates of many types of cancer than the general population. It is critical that both individual firefighters and fire service leaders implement the best practices to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals and carcinogens. Use the Lavender Ribbon Report Update to implement practices that will make the department safer and reduce the number of firefighters who have to face the anguish of a cancer diagnosis.

Rosenbauer America receives 12-unit order

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Rosenbauer America has received a multi-unit order from the State of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The order, awarded to Rosenbauer with the support of local dealer Burton’s Fire, Inc includes six type-5 engines, five type-6 engines, and a 2200-gallon tactical water tender.

“We are thrilled to be working with the State of California to support their Department of Parks and Recreation,” said Ken Howenstine, Burton’s Fire, Inc., sales engineer. “California boasts 280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, and 4,500 miles of trails. The department contains the largest and most diverse recreational, natural, and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation.”

The initial order of 12 custom units will be equipped with UPF Poly Water Tanks, Darley Pumps (6- 2 ½  AGE, 5- 1 ½ AGE, and 1- HM500), Foam Pro 1600 Class A Foam Systems, Whelen Warning, and Siren Package and FireTech HiViZ LED Scene lights.

“Rosenbauer fire trucks have been leading firefighting innovation for more than 150 years,” said Howenstine. “The new Rosenbauer custom units that will be supporting California Department of Parks and Recreation will be instrumental in supporting the communities in California.”

California’s state parks and the recreational programs supported by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and its divisions of Boating and Waterways, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation, and Office of Historic Preservation, are gateways to these benefits and to opportunities to connect with families, friends, and communities. More than 75 million people annually visit California’s State Park System.

Burton’s Fire, Inc. was established in 1991 by brothers, Ken and John Burton. Burton’s Fire specializes in chassis change-overs, refurbishes, wreck repairs, pump overhauls, electrical (new and troubleshooting), as well as new build-ups.

Perimeter Solutions helps preserve Reagan Ranch from wildfire

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The Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California now has greater protection from wildfires, courtesy of Perimeter Solutions. The producers of high-quality firefighting products recently treated the 688-acre property with PHOS-CHEK® FORTIFY® long-term fire retardant, a ground-based retardant that is formulated, so that one application provides protection from wildfires that will continue to remain effective even after a significant rain event.

Perimeter Solutions and its team treated the Reagan Ranch with thousands of gallons of PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY, applying it to areas around the property that are at risk for wildfires. Once PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY is applied it helps render vegetation and other fuels where it’s applied nonflammable. PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY is formulated to have extended durability and greater adherence to vegetation and other fuels in order to provide protection for an extended period of time. Unlike retardant dropped from aircraft, which is colored red to help pilots track where the retardant is dropped, the solution is clear.

This innovation in long-term retardants is relatively new and is starting to be widely adopted by utilities, railroads, insurance companies, homeowners and other high hazard industries who are helping to prevent wildfire ignitions and proactively protecting their property from wildfires.

The contribution of PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY to protect the Reagan Ranch stemmed from a meeting Perimeter Solutions CEO Edward Goldberg had with representatives from the Ranch at a political event in California this past summer.

“The 2021 wildfire season is highly active in the Western United States, and it is important for everyone whose home or business is at risk from wildfires to take the necessary steps to protect their property,” says Goldberg. “The Reagan Ranch is an important, historical site and it is facing the same danger. I am proud of the fact that Perimeter Solutions is helping to preserve our nation’s history by protecting the Reagan Ranch from the devastation that can be caused by wildfires.”

President Ronald Reagan purchased Rancho del Cielo in 1974, planning to retire there with his wife Nancy after the conclusion of his second term as governor of California the next year, but history had other plans. Following his Presidential election in 1980, Rancho del Cielo was transformed into the Western White House, the place where President Reagan signed major legislation, hosted dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth and Mikhail Gorbachev, and spoke by phone with the crew of the Challenger space shuttle.

In 1998, the Young America’s Foundation acquired the property directly from the Reagan family “to preserve, protect, and utilize the Ranch as a unique and impactful tool to pass on Ronald Reagan’s ideas and lasting accomplishments to future generations,” according to the Ranch’s website. Young America’s Foundation continues to protect the property to this day.

“During the summer of 2018, the Sherpa wildfire ignited about a quarter of a mile from the Reagan Ranch and consumed nearly 8,000 acres. Fortunately, it never reached the Ranch, but wildfires continue to present the greatest threat to the preservation of the property. We want future generations to be able to visit and learn about President Reagan, and we are grateful to Perimeter Solutions for working with us, and for donating PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY to protect the Reagan Ranch from wildfire,” says Brent Kilpper, Associate Director for the Reagan Ranch.

Perimeter Solutions produced a video to capture the Reagan Ranch application, which you can view on their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWG_remaeRM.

For more information on Perimeter Solutions, visit https://www.perimeter-solutions.com.

NFPA announces launch of Ecosystem Assessment Tool

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The NFPA Fire & Life Safety Policy Institute announced the launch of the Ecosystem Assessment Tool that will help users identify gaps in a community’s capacity to support safety and draw on the results to advocate for specific changes that will better protect citizens and property. It is designed for professionals and practitioners responsible for building, electrical, and life safety including fire officials, building code enforcers, emergency managers, and policymakers, and is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic languages.

In the last decade, a number of tragic U.S. and international life safety incidents have put a spotlight on safety systems that repeatedly fail to protect the public and first responders. These incidents represent failures of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem™, a framework NFPA developed in 2018 that identifies the eight components that must work together to minimize risk and help prevent loss, injuries, and death from fire, electrical, and other hazards. Because breakdowns in one or more of the components are often revealed after a fire or life safety event occurs, the Ecosystem Assessment Tool gives communities the opportunity to revisit their safety practices before weaknesses in the system lead to tragedies.

Across the globe, communities differ in size, economic conditions, and governance structures. Through the user’s answers to a series of questions about the Ecosystem components, the tool is intended to shed light on gaps in safety systems regardless of the particular characteristics of a community. Upon completing the assessment, the user receives a score that rates the community as poor, fair, good, or excellent in its approach to safety. Provided with the score is a detailed breakdown for each Ecosystem component to help identify specific gaps that should be addressed.

“In today’s society, our changing infrastructure, new technology, evolving risks, and competing priorities all put pressure on maintaining strong fire and life safety protections,” said Meghan Housewright, director of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Policy Institute. “The Ecosystem Assessment Tool gives communities the opportunity to see how well prepared they are to face disasters and what they need to do to help address fractures in their own fire and life safety ecosystems to create safer areas to live and work.”

While progress has been made in the last few decades regarding the fire problem, fire safety continues to lag behind other societal concerns that are often deemed more pressing. The Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem calls for a culture of best practices and accountability and serves as the blueprint for rebuilding our global safety infrastructure. Access the free Ecosystem Assessment Tool at nfpa.org/ecosystemtool.

More information about the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, including the new 2020 Ecosystem Year in Review report, videos, articles, reports and fact sheets, is available at nfpa.org/ecosystem.

Magnum Fire & Safety Systems acquired by Perimeter Solutions

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Perimeter Solutions announced that it has acquired Magnum Fire & Safety Systems a manufacturer of firefighting foam equipment and systems. Magnum Fire and Safety Systems – a division of Magnum Fabrication, Inc. (Port Arthur, TX USA) – has manufactured firefighting foam equipment for more than thirty-years. The move was made to support and expand the company’s capability as a global firefighting foam systems integrator.  

According to Eddie Goldberg, President and CEO of Perimeter Solutions, the acquisition of Magnum Fire and Safety is in line with the company’s drive to provide the market with comprehensive firefighting technology and equipment portfolios, and to develop solutions that are tailored for customer fire protection needs. “We want to offer a broader range of comprehensive solutions for international fire safety programs – particularly as we roll out new fluorine-free firefighting foam technology,” he said. “We will continue to invest in manufacturing and technology to support the growth of our business in markets around the world,” he added.  

Expanding an already robust offering

Today, Perimeter Solutions offers its custom-designed line of equipment for firefighting foam installations. These include a full range of system tanks (bladder and atmospheric), bladders, proportioning devices, fixed and mobile discharge devices, foam tote trailers and mobile products, such as carts and trailers. Perimeter Solutions firefighting foam equipment has been sold under the SOLBERG® brand name mainly in North American and Asia Pacific. With this acquisition, the company plans on expanding its equipment sales into Europe and Asia, while growing a larger footprint in the United States.

According to Ken Broussard, former owner of Magnum Fire & Safety Systems, Perimeter Solutions’ foam chemistry expertise, especially in fluorine-free alternatives, and global reach makes for a good and timely fit for this acquisition.

Comprehensive firefighting foam technology  
Perimeter Solutions offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive and highest performing lines of firefighting foam, including Class A, Class B, Class A/B and training foams. These foams meet international standards for fire suppression effectiveness. Perimeter Solutions is a leader in the development of next-generation fluorine-free fire suppressant foam technology. The company has developed customized solutions for Aviation, Oil & Gas, Municipal, Industrial, Military markets. For more information, visit www.perimeter-solutions.com.

OroraTech to launch satellites to tackle global wildfires

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OroraTech is the first NewSpace start-up to provide global wildfire detection and monitoring services. The platform is already used by government agencies, insurance companies, and commercial forestry operators around the globe, helping to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of forest fires and other climate change related topics.

The latest €5.8 million Series A funding round is led by Findus Venture and Ananda Impact Ventures, with contributions from APEX Ventures, BayernKapital, and experienced Business Angels including Clemens Kaiser, SpaceTec Capital and Ingo Baumann. It will be used for further advancement of technology and development of the international team.

Wildfires destroy 30-40 million hectares of vegetation every year, causing insured losses of over 20 billion US dollars. These initially difficult to identify forest fires release around eight billion tons of CO2 – more than global automobile traffic. OroraTech counteracts this increasingly devastating economic and environmental damage and develops, in addition to its platform solution, its own worldwide nanosatellite network that can identify fires around the globe in near real-time.

This Series A round has a significant impact on the development of OroraTech’s satellite technology and wildfire detection services. “This funding round will enable us to launch our first satellites and scale our geospatial data analysis platform,” says Thomas Grübler, CEO and Co-founder.

The first launch is planned for the end of 2021 and will be the basis of their thermal infrared nanosatellite constellation. In 2023, 14 more nanosatellites will follow, and by 2026, more than 100 OroraTech satellites will be in orbit. OroraTech’s constellation is designed to fill in the gaps and provide a completely new set of thermal-infrared data, providing real-time information on fires worldwide.

“OroraTech is a leader in thermal-infrared data from space. With its unique information from this data and modern SaaS approach, OroraTech will meet the ever-growing demand for space-based data”, says Christian Federspiel, CEO of Findus Venture.

Florian Erber, Managing Director at Ananda Impact Ventures, adds: “What excites us about OroraTech is the immediate impact on mitigating Climate Change by protecting our natural carbon sinks and reducing CO2 emissions on a large scale. The strong mission-driven OroraTech team and their environmental solution is a perfect fit for Ananda and our core believe in entrepreneurial solutions for a more sustainable world.”

“We have been actively observing OroraTech since 2019 which has already then impressed by its dynamic and determined founder team. It is absolutely remarkable what they have built up and achieved so far despite limited financial resources and we feel very proud that we are allowed to be part of this inspiring and ambitious NewSpace project,” says Wolfgang Neubert, Partner at APEX Ventures.

Roman Huber, Managing Director of Bayern Kapital, adds: “The market potential of NewSpace businesses is considerable. The potential fields of application for OroraTech across the globe in particularly at-risk regions such as California, Australia, or Brazil, convinced us – the venture capital organization of the Free State of Bavaria – from the start. With our growth fund ‘Wachstumsfonds Bayern’ we will support the Munich-based business to take the next step in realizing its ambitious growth plans.”

The company’s focus is to prevent, monitor and uncover the damages caused by climate change and to tackle environment-related business opportunities. Besides forest fire detection, OroraTech also works on solutions to monitor gas flares, improve weather models, and analyze agricultural areas. “Thermal-infrared satellite imagery allows for a great number of use cases,” says Björn Stoffers, CMO and Co-founder.

“Our primary target is to expand our position as the leading provider of satellite-based wildfire monitoring.” OroraTech’s platform currently uses a custom wildfire detection algorithm and data from 14 different satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) to notify users of fires in their area of interest and to support immediate firefighting. The company is expanding its customer base in the U.S. and Canada, as well as strengthening its presence in Brazil, Chile, and Australia. OroraTech is also cooperating with NGOs to preserve wildlife in Africa.

The funding round will enable OroraTech to grow its international team and establish branch offices in the United States and Australia. Stoffers adds: “Wildfires are a significant challenge for our global ecosystem, and we are closely collaborating with international experts to tackle the problem.”