Idaho is trying out technology that promises to detect wildfires faster than traditional methods, and the company behind the tech said it’s the first state in the country to do so at this scale.
The Idaho Department of Lands, which handles fires primarily on state-managed endowment land, began a partnership in August with OroraTech, a German company that uses satellites and thermal imaging technology to identify new fires and predict possible spread. The company said it can detect fire almost in real time.
“By partnering with the Idaho Department of Lands, we’re ensuring that firefighters across the state have access to the most advanced wildfire intelligence available,” said Thomas Gruebler, CEO of OroraTech USA, in a news release. “With the ability to detect wildfire ignitions that are the size of a small automobile, we are giving Idaho’s first responders every possible advantage in protecting lives, property and the land that defines this great state.”
