USDA, Interior To Use Satellite Images To Fight Wildfires

Sometimes if you have a big problem that needs to be addressed, it’s worthwhile to look at the problem from a completely different angle. In the case of tackling dangerous wildfires in the western U.S., that particular angle could be looking straight down — from outer space.

The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced this week that they have signed an agreement with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to use the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — R series (GOES-R) data to rapidly detect and report when a wildfire starts. Supported by a $20 million investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the agreement will use advanced remote sensing capabilities to improve the speed and accuracy of wildfire detection.

IIJA also includes $5 billion over five years for the Forest Service and Interior to invest in preparedness, fuels management, post-fire restoration and fire science. “By using expanded satellite capacity to pinpoint wildfire ignitions and provide real-time data for wildfire managers, this partnership with NOAA will enable the Interior and Agriculture departments to respond to wildfires more rapidly and make informed decisions for firefighting operations and public safety,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

GOES-R series satellites are frequently capable of detecting wildfires before they are spotted on the ground or reported to 911. The satellites also can help pinpoint the exact location of a fire after smoke reports occur. According to the agencies, these improved capabilities will support interagency efforts to protect people and communities from increasingly devastating wildfires.

GOES-R satellite observations also help to monitor smoke from those fires in near real time, which can help in directing firefighting efforts from the air. Deploying airplanes and helicopters for wildfire suppression efforts is often hampered by poor visibility. GOES-R satellites can help guide decisions for deploying flights by providing information on the exact location and drift of smoke from a fire. The smoke detection and monitoring information also enable better air quality forecasts to help safeguard public health.

The collaboration from these agencies to use satellite data will assist other federally funded wildfire mitigation and response programs in an effort to curtail the severity of these damaging wildfires. There’s an old saying out there that says, “If you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.” In this case, that’s true!

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