Standardising fire risk measurement for local communities

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsResearchWildland Fire

National Fire Risk Atlas to improve risk intelligence

A new Fire Risk Atlas is currently under development to provide the first standardised framework for measuring fire risk in local communities across the United States.

The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) at UL Research Institutes (ULRI) is leading the effort alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

This project focuses on research regarding single-structure fire risk and structure-to-structure fire spread alongside wildland-urban interface vulnerability.

Decision-makers require reliable data to identify emerging threats and guide investments toward effective mitigation.

Local fire departments reported approximately 1.244 million fires in 2024 which resulted in more than 2,200 deaths and $144 billion in property loss.

Wildfires in 2025 consumed over 5.1 million acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.

The Southern California fires in January 2025 were recorded as being among the most costly fire incidents.

National spending currently remains focused on suppression and response rather than long-term prevention.

Integrating risk intelligence into NERIS

The analytical tools and measurements produced by this research will be integrated into the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

NERIS is a platform used by nearly 30,000 fire departments nationwide to support real-time decision-making and the adoption of the latest fire science.

Rebecca Harned, Principal Research Scientist at UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute, said: “Despite the increase in destructive fire incidents, resulting in billions of dollars in economic loss annually, we continue to struggle to measure and predict fire risk.

“Yet, accurate and precise risk intelligence is a critical ingredient for empowering communities to take responsibility and invest in prevention and mitigation efforts that make a difference.

“At ULRI, we’ve taken on this challenge by integrating fire behavior science with data science and economics to provide the actionable intelligence on fire risk our public leaders urgently need.”

Advancing wildfire risk modeling science

ULRI has launched the Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise in 2026 to foster collaboration between over 40 partner organisations.

This convergent experiment aims to identify the strengths of existing models and determine how to ensemble them for greater precision.

The Exercise Planning – Conduct Team includes representatives from CAL FIRE and University of California San Diego’s Wildfire Science – Technology Commons.

Other members include the Gordon – Betty Moore Foundation, FireWERX, Google.org, and the U.S. Department of War’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.

Public safety agencies will use these validated insights to anticipate threats and prioritise prevention strategies.

TracPlus examines human factors in wildland firefighting AI use

by Aerial FirefightingAI & Deep LearningFeatured NewsResearchWildland Fire

Wildland firefighting AI accountability

TracPlus has published a new white paper examining how aerial agencies can manage the adoption of artificial intelligence with transparency and accountability.

The document, titled AI Makes the Call. Who Answers for It?, provides an industry-informed perspective on the increasing role of automated systems in fire operations.

TracPlus is an operational data infrastructure provider that monitors more than 2,500 wildfire suppression aircraft across 44 countries.

The paper identifies that AI systems are already influencing how decisions are made while governance structures are still in a state of evolution.

National agencies including CAL FIRE, New Zealand’s Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and Australia’s national aerial firefighting program use the platform as their system of record.

The infrastructure holds more than a billion flight records and collects approximately one million new operational data points every day.

Operational data and human judgment

The white paper highlights how AI systems can change how human judgment is applied during wildland firefighting operations.

Research indicates that the reliability of these tools depends on the quality and visibility of the underlying data.

Todd O’Hara, Chief Commercial Officer at TracPlus, said: “AI is becoming part of the operational toolkit, and that’s a positive development.

“The opportunity for agencies is to introduce it in a way that preserves visibility into what’s happening, why recommendations are being made, and how those decisions play out over time.”

The proposed approach involves running AI recommendations alongside human decisions and maintaining an independent operational record.

Agencies can use this data to establish a baseline and evaluate the performance of new technologies over time.

Wildfire mitigation saves money, says Megafire Action

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Wildfire costs and household bills

Megafire Action released a new primer in Washington, D.C. on 14 April stating that strategic investment in wildfire management can reduce costs linked to insurance, utilities and disaster recovery for American households.

The organisation said the report was issued ahead of the traditional start to the wildfire season and focuses on affordability alongside fire risk.

The primer states that wildfires cost the United States between $100 billion and $500 billion each year, including direct damage and longer-term economic effects.

It states that home insurance premiums rose by an average of $648, or 24%, nationwide between 2021 and 2024.

In high-risk Western states, many families have seen their insurance bills rise by more than 50%.

The report also states that wildfires increase electricity costs for ratepayers as utilities cover repairs, legal fees and rising insurance costs.

Spending and legislation in focus

According to the primer, spending on landscape resilience and home hardening can reduce future losses and recovery costs.

It states that every $1 spent on targeted forest management and fuels removal can save up to $7 in future damages and costs.

It adds that each $1 invested by the government in fire-risk reduction grants saves about $3 by avoiding more expensive disaster recovery efforts.

James Campbell, Megafire Action’s Director of Federal Affairs, said: “Investing in wildfire mitigation is smart across the board: it protects our wallets, our homes, and most importantly, our lives.

“As we head into another wildfire season, it’s imperative we tackle the dual wildfire and affordability crisis.

“The Fix Our Forests Act is a key step to address wildfire-driven spikes in insurance and utility bills that are draining family budgets.”

Congress is considering the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462), which has passed out of committee with bipartisan support and is awaiting consideration by the full U.S. Senate.

If enacted, the bill would modernise forest management, streamline permitting for critical safety projects and establish a Wildfire Intelligence Center to improve inter-agency data sharing.

Megafire Action said the act is backed by governors, state agencies, conservation groups and businesses.

2025 EU wildfire season sets record with over one million hectares burned

by Featured NewsResearchWildland Fire

Wildfire season sets EU record for burnt area

The European Union recorded its most destructive wildfire season in 2025, with over one million hectares burned across Member States and activity peaking during summer heatwaves.

The Joint Research Centre reported that satellite analysis from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) showed 1,079,538 hectares burned within the EU.

The total rises to 2,242,195 hectares when including areas across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa monitored by EFFIS.

The fire season began early, with more than 100,000 hectares burned by the end of March.

Fire activity increased from June and reached its highest levels in August as large fires spread across Mediterranean countries.

A heatwave in early August triggered 22 very large fires in Portugal and Spain, burning 460,585 hectares which accounted for 43% of the EU total.

In total, 7,783 fires were recorded across 25 of the 27 EU Member States, with Luxembourg and Malta the only countries unaffected.

Germany, Spain, Cyprus and Slovakia each recorded their highest burnt area since EFFIS records began in 2006.

Burnt area across the EU was nearly double the average recorded between 2006 and 2024.

Around 39% of the total burnt area occurred within Natura 2000 protected sites, equating to 424,023 hectares.

Monitoring and response measures for wildfire risk

The Joint Research Centre outlined that EFFIS continues to support authorities with monitoring and preparedness through satellite-based wildfire data.

The 2025 season reflects a pattern of earlier fire starts, more frequent heatwaves and fires occurring at higher latitudes than previously observed.

Outside the EU, Ukraine accounted for almost 30% of the total burnt area and 39% of mapped fires within the wider monitored region.

The European Commission adopted a new integrated approach to wildfire risk management on 25 March 2026, covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The framework includes plans to improve early warning systems and fire mapping through expanded satellite data availability.

EFFIS forms part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service and provides standardised wildfire data across Europe.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) coordinates firefighting resources from Member States and participating countries.

Seasonal measures include prepositioning firefighters in high-risk areas and maintaining a shared aerial firefighting fleet under rescEU.

The Commission has allocated funding for 12 firefighting planes and five helicopters to expand the permanent rescEU fleet, with aircraft based across several European countries.

These measures sit alongside ongoing efforts to strengthen wildfire monitoring and response capacity across the region.

OroraTech recognised for wildfire monitoring platform in North America

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

OroraTech named in 2025 innovators list

OroraTech has been named to Darcy Partners’ Top 10 Innovators in Environmental Risk & Resilience list for 2025, with the announcement made on 7 April 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

OroraTech said the recognition reflects its work providing real-time wildfire data to North American utility operators, land managers and wildland firefighters.

The company’s Wildfire Solution (WFS) platform aggregates thermal data from more than 35 satellites.

That network includes OroraTech’s FOREST constellation, which it describes as the first constellation in space dedicated to wildfire monitoring and detection.

The platform is designed to track wildfires as they happen and provide fire propagation predictions as well as burnt area assessments.

Platform details and company response

According to OroraTech, the platform uses satellites targeting the “Afternoon Gap” – the period of peak burn when public satellite coverage is limited.

The company said this is intended to give first responders continuous high-resolution visibility through smoke and haze.

Stephen Murdock, Senior Manager, Utilities Solutions at OroraTech USA, said: “Putting sensors in space is part of our business, but what we are really doing is building a lifeline for the incident commanders and utility operators making high-stakes decisions on the ground.

“Being recognized by Darcy Partners validates our commitment to delivering the operational intelligence that American fire agencies and risk managers need to detect ignitions early, predict fire spread, and ultimately protect our communities and wildlands.”

Murdock added: “Our goal is to support firefighters on the ground.

“This acknowledgment from Darcy Partners signals that our approach to fire resilience is working and bridging the gap between cutting-edge orbital technology and the rugged, tactical needs of the fireline.”

Darcy Partners described its annual selection process as an evaluation of novelty, impact, scalability and alignment with industry needs, alongside activity across the Darcy Connect network.

BIOEX launches fluorine-free wildland firefighting foam range

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProductsWildland Fire

BIOEX presents two wildland foam concentrates

BIOEX has presented its wildland firefighting range, made up of ECOPOL F and BIOFOR, with both concentrates described as 100% fluorine-free and fully biodegradable for forest fire operations.

The French manufacturer BIOEX outlined the range as suitable for wildland firefighting across different terrains, seasons and delivery platforms.

ECOPOL F and BIOFOR are free of PFAs and are described as non-toxic to animals and vegetation.

Both products are stated to comply with current and future environmental regulations including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stewardship Program and the European Groundwater Directive.

BIOEX details ECOPOL F applications

ECOPOL F operates at concentrations from 0.1% as a wetting agent to 1% as a foam agent.

Its surfactant technology is described as driving water into burning solids to extinguish embers and reduce re-ignition.

At 0.1% to 0.5%, the product is intended for wetting applications involving vegetation, timber, tyres, plastics, car fires and structure fires.

At 0.5% to 1%, it forms an adhesive foam blanket that clings to vertical surfaces at low, medium and high expansion.

It is also described as suitable for contained Class B hydrocarbon fire scenarios involving diesel, kerosene and petrol.

The concentrate is listed for aerial and ground delivery including airtankers, helicopters, compressed air foam systems and foam proportioners.

A nitrate-free corrosion inhibitor is included alongside a 10-year warranty.

ECOPOL F is listed on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service QPL and is GreenScreen Certified.

BIOFOR is positioned for year-round use

BIOFOR is designed for wildland firefighting in remote terrain, cold weather and large-scale aerial coverage.

Its Newtonian viscosity enables pumping with standard proportioning equipment and its freeze-protection formula removes the need for heated storage.

The product supports low, medium and high expansion within a single concentrate.

Wetting properties are described as enabling water to penetrate burning solids more quickly, addressing embers at the fire’s core.

It also creates visible firebreaks on the ground to support tactical operations.

The formulation is suitable for use in winter and cold-climate zones without heated storage.

A low concentration rate is described as reducing storage requirements and supporting operational flexibility.

CitroTech outlines fire product growth after NYSE American uplist

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Fire growth and 2025 results

CitroTech has reported revenue growth in 2025, leadership changes, an NYSE American uplist and further commercial plans for its fire inhibition products and CitroSafe systems.

In a letter to shareholders issued on 30 March, Wesley J. Bolsen, Chief Executive Officer of CitroTech, outlined the company’s financial performance and corporate developments.

Revenue reached $2.4 million in 2025, up from $808,000 in 2024.

The company also completed $8.1 million in Series C financing through preferred equity and convertible instruments.

CitroTech’s common stock uplisted to the NYSE American in December 2025.

Bolsen said Andrew Hotsko joined as Chief Operating Officer in July 2025 and that he joined as Chief Executive Officer in October 2025.

He also confirmed that Craig Huff of Boltrock Holdings and Lorenzo Calinawan from Chemlink Partners joined the Board of Directors.

In early 2026, the company added a Vice President of Business Development and expanded its research and development team.

Fire products and 2026 commercial plans

Bolsen said CitroTech holds 37 granted patents and 45 filed or pending applications covering chemistry, application methods and fire inhibition technologies.

He added that the company remained the first and only fire inhibitor to receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice designation and that it has maintained UL GREENGUARD Gold certification.

The letter stated that CitroTech products saw adoption by fire departments, particularly across California.

Its wood treatment products also moved toward commercialisation for the fire-retardant-treated lumber market.

In early 2026, the company began partnering with lumber and building materials companies using CitroTech formulations to produce Class A fire rated wood products.

Bolsen said CitroTech continued deploying CitroSafe Systems for residential and commercial properties and linked further deployment to proof-of-concept work with a major broker.

Fire outlook linked to wildfire demand

Bolsen said CitroTech’s 2026 focus is on scaling operations, expanding commercial channels and building partnerships across the lumber and building materials industry.

He added that CitroSafe Systems deployment is expected to move beyond proof-of-concept, including deeper integration with insurance solutions.

CitroTech expects revenue growth to accelerate in 2026 as wildfire season intensifies and commercial channels expand.

The letter also cited independent research projecting the global fire-retardant market will reach $13.6 billion by 2034.

Bolsen said the company plans to report its first quarter 2026 results during its first formal earnings call in May.

Upcoming webinar: From data to decision in the fight against wildfires

by AmericasAmericas - Breaking NewsAmericas - EventsBreaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesSafetyWildland FireWildland Fire

Electric utilities across North America are facing a growing crisis as wildfire seasons become longer, more destructive and increasingly unpredictable. In response, industry leaders are shifting their strategy from reacting to fires to preventing them.

A new webinar, From Data to Decision: Powering the Future of Wildfire Prevention for Utility Networks, will explore how this transformation is taking shape on April 28.

REGISTER HERE

The upcoming session, hosted by IFSJ sister publication FSJA, will bring together experts and utility professionals to examine how data is being harnessed to reduce wildfire risk and protect critical infrastructure.

At the heart of this shift is a move beyond simple data collection toward actionable intelligence, insights that can guide decisions across operations, risk management and long-term infrastructure planning.

Modern situational awareness platforms and predictive analytics are playing a central role. Utilities are now integrating a wide range of data sources, including localised climate patterns, real-time weather observations, vegetation health and encroachment monitoring, asset condition reports, historical outage trends and wildfire progression models.

These inputs are enabling a more comprehensive understanding of risk across utility networks.

Emerging technologies are also expanding the toolkit available to utilities. Artificial intelligence-powered smoke detection systems, for example, are helping identify potential ignitions earlier than ever before, giving operators valuable time to respond before incidents escalate.

The webinar will highlight how advances in vegetation intelligence, machine learning applied to localised climate extremes, and infrastructure risk scoring are allowing utilities to prioritise mitigation efforts more effectively.

By focusing resources where they are needed most, companies can strengthen resilience while improving public safety outcomes.

Wildfire experts to speak

Among the featured speakers is Chris Waters, a retired Operational Division Chief from CAL FIRE with 25 years of experience in wildfire management. Waters, now Principal of Fireshed Forestry Solutions, brings deep expertise in fire behavior modeling, predictive analytics, and risk assessment, informed by his work on major incidents including the 2021 Dixie Fire.

Joining him is Chuck Parker, Vice President of Sales – Americas at Indji Systems, Inc., and Director of Business Development for the utility industry. With more than two decades of experience, Parker has contributed extensively to industry knowledge through expert papers and conference presentations focused on lightning science, natural hazards, and data-driven solutions for utilities.

As wildfire risk continues to redefine operational priorities, the webinar aims to provide attendees with practical insights into how leading utilities are leveraging data to move from awareness to action. The session underscores a broader industry trend: prevention, powered by intelligence, is becoming the new frontline in wildfire management.

Sign up for the webinar here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/666672836818352474

The future of wildfire technology

by Aerial FirefightingAmericasAmericas - Breaking NewsAmericas - EventsAviationEventsFire SuppressionWildland FireWildland Fire

The world is making significant investments to rise to the challenge of managing and responding to deadly wildfires. Not only has the US federal government expanded budgets to prevent and defend against wildfires, but it is also evaluating the organisation of its federal wildfire agencies.

Likewise, state and local governments and utility companies are increasing their investments in wildfire prevention, mitigation and suppression.

IDGA’s Wildfire Technology Summit, taking place on April 21-22, 2026, at the Kona Kai Hotel in San Diego, CA, convenes senior decision-makers from across the wildfire ecosystem to tackle real-world challenges, accelerate modernisation efforts and shape the next phase of wildfire resilience, prevention, and suppression.

IDGA’s Wildfire Technology Summit agenda

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find in the agenda:

✔️ Timely and high-priority sessions, such as the role of the brand-new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, advancing wildfire capabilities, AI and its role in wildfire intelligence, management strategies, and more!

✔️ Recently confirmed speakers, including Dirk Giles and Jessica Haas from the U.S. Forest Service, Sean Triplett and Mike Falkowski from Earth Fire Alliance and Brian D’Agostino from San Diego Gas and Electric, alongside many new additions

✔️ Networking opportunities with more than 300 senior wildfire experts, all focused on exploring solutions for the prediction, prevention, detection, suppression, and mitigation of destructive wildland fires

Download the agenda to find out more.

Sequoia protection bill advances fire resilience measures in forests

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

Bipartisan sequoia legislation advances with focus on fire risk reduction

The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act by a voice vote on 16 March in Washington, DC, advancing legislation focused on the protection and conservation of giant sequoia trees.

Megafire Action comments on the House passage and said the bill would support coordination between federal, state, tribal and local land managers through shared agreements and the codification of the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.

The bill would create a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment to identify wildfire risk reduction treatments in the highest-risk groves and track the progress of scientific forest management activities.

It would also declare an emergency to speed environmental reviews and consultations, retain scientific analysis, allow the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation to accept private donations and establish a reforestation strategy for areas destroyed by recent catastrophic wildfires.

Fire measures and Senate companion bill

The legislation also directs the Department of the Interior to implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy supported by new specialised programmes and funding.

Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action, said: “Today’s vote is a major win for forest health.

“The Save Our Sequoias Act builds on successful action USFS took to ramp up the pace and scale of resilience work after losing 20% of our iconic sequoia groves to extreme wildfire in 2022.

“The Giant Sequoias Land Coalition has made incredible progress and this bill will help finish the job and save these iconic forests.

“Like the Fix Our Forests Act, which would take a similar approach to expediting resilience work on federal land, the Save Our Sequoias Act is bipartisan, targeted, and essential.

“We urge the Senate to maintain this momentum and get these complementary reforms across the finish line without delay.”

In the wake of the House vote, a Senate companion bill was introduced later that day by Senators Alex Padilla and John Curtis.

Fire legislation alongside Fix Our Forests Act

Megafire Action also linked the bill to the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462), which is awaiting consideration by the full US Senate.

The group said both bills have bipartisan support and noted that the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced the Fix Our Forests Act on a bipartisan basis in October 2025.

According to Megafire Action, that bill would modernise management policies, streamline permitting for high-priority safety projects and establish a Wildfire Intelligence Center to improve inter-agency data sharing.

The group said it wants the Senate to pass both bills as part of longer-term forest resilience planning.