Key facts
- Galicia is investing €213 million in a new AI-powered wildfire prevention plan.
- The plan utilizes AI-powered cameras and satellites to detect fires within minutes.
- The system uses convolutional neural networks to analyze visual signatures of fire.
- Galicia's fire management platform, Xeocode, now incorporates this AI capability.
- Greece has deployed four nanosatellites with thermal sensors for wildfire detection.
Spain's Galicia region is launching an extensive AI and satellite-based system to combat wildfires, aiming to drastically reduce detection times and prevent a recurrence of the devastating 'megafires' experienced in 2025. The region's government is investing €213 million in its most significant fire prevention plan to date, incorporating artificial intelligence, a new app, and enhanced resources.
The AI systems analyze a continuous stream of images from ground-based cameras and satellites. These models are trained to recognize the visual indicators of a fire, such as smoke plumes or heat signatures. Upon detection, an automatic alert is sent for technician verification before emergency crews are dispatched. The goal is to shorten the time from ignition to detection from hours to mere minutes, enabling fires to be contained while small.
Galicia's dense forests, aging rural population, and land abandonment have historically made it highly susceptible to fires. The new measures are designed to adapt to the 'enormous intensity' of fires seen in recent summers, according to regional president Alfonso Rueda. The AI capability has been integrated into Xeocode, the region's internal fire management platform, utilizing convolutional neural networks to identify smoke from 241 surveillance cameras. Pilot tests demonstrated the system's ability to detect fires from over 15 kilometers away, extending to 25 kilometers under favorable conditions.
Galicia's approach mirrors a broader trend across fire-prone regions. Europe experienced its most destructive wildfire season on record in 2025, with over 1,079,000 hectares burned across 25 member states. Greece has taken a leading role by integrating a dedicated satellite constellation, comprising four nanosatellites from German company OroraTech, into its firefighting system. These satellites use thermal sensors to detect blazes as small as four meters across, with AI-processed data on location, size, and intensity sent directly to national commanders. The AI models are also designed to filter out false alarms, such as sun-warmed surfaces or solar panels.
Portugal, which has suffered extensive burnt areas over the past two decades, is also integrating satellite-based detection. Southern European nations are increasingly adopting a combination of cameras, satellites, and machine learning to bolster their wildfire response capabilities.