The escalation of wildfires worldwide has had catastrophic global repercussions, intensifying in both frequency and severity due to the ongoing warming of our planet. It is imperative for governments worldwide to prioritize fire prevention and risk assessment to curb the spread of wildfires, especially with the 2024 weather forecast predicting another dangerously hot period.
Combatting fires is not only challenging but also perilous and deadly.
Recent data from Global Forest Watch indicates that we are currently losing half the tree cover compared to two decades ago due to forest fires. A study by the University of Maryland revealed that bushfires have led to the loss of over a quarter of all trees in the past 20 years, amounting to an additional three million hectares annually compared to 2001, roughly equivalent to the size of Belgium.
The year 2023 witnessed a surge in fire incidents, including unprecedented burns in Canada and devastating fires in Hawaii. The escalating frequency of wildfires can be attributed to climate change and the soaring occurrence of heatwaves, which are five times more prevalent today than a century ago.
In 2022, the California Mosquito Fire ravaged vast acres of forest areas, consuming 78 buildings in nearby communities and marking one of the largest burns in the United States. With nearly one million acres of forest land destroyed in 2022, resulting in a record-breaking year for the United States, the total damage amounted to approximately $3.2 billion.
Moreover, the Mediterranean region experienced a significant increase in summertime fires, with Spain witnessing the burning of over 70,000 acres of trees in 2022, the highest since 2001, due to extreme heat and drought conditions. Portugal also suffered a substantial loss of over 130,000 hectares of tree cover in five years, surpassing the total loss of the previous decade.
In Canada, a record number of fires have ravaged the country from coast to coast, with an estimated 18.5 million acres projected to burn in 2023, surpassing the previous record set in 1983 at 17.5 million acres.
While the development of new methods to predict fire risks is not novel, the utilization of AI to mitigate the impacts of climate change-induced alterations is a recent advancement. AI-powered cameras are now being deployed by rescue teams and startups to monitor the horizon for smoke signals. A German company is in the process of developing a satellite to detect fires in space, while Microsoft is leveraging AI algorithms to forecast potential fire outbreaks.
Initiatives like The FireAId by the World Economic Forum employ AI to enhance early fire detection and prediction, aiding in proactive firefighting measures. By analyzing fire patterns and data, advanced prediction tools are created to assist firefighters in combating the effects of climate change effectively. The primary objective of FireAId is to equip firefighters with user-friendly tools that optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency.
Canada, which witnessed extensive forest devastation in 2023, has embarked on innovative approaches through a collaboration between Alberta’s Provincial forest fire agency and Edmonton-based AltaML. The AltaML firefighting AI model can predict new wildfires with an impressive 80% accuracy rate by analyzing vast datasets and environmental conditions. This model not only forecasts fire probabilities but also examines the interplay between fires, climate change, and human activities by monitoring global carbon emissions daily.
The implementation of such predictive models is projected to save millions of dollars in firefighting costs by strategically deploying resources to high-risk areas. The utilization of AI technologies like AUDREY, developed by NASA, enhances situational awareness for firefighters by providing real-time data integration and guidance during firefighting operations. AUDREY collects crucial information such as temperature, gas levels, fire progression, and optimal response times to ensure the safety and efficiency of first responders.
As the planet grapples with escalating greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent global warming, wildfires continue to spread rapidly, releasing millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each month. The long-term impact of wildfires on natural resources and the well-being of firefighters and local communities underscores the urgency for governments to leverage cutting-edge AI systems to combat the escalating threat of wildfires amidst a warming climate.
The concerted efforts of AI/ML innovators such as AltaML, Microsoft, NASA, and The World Economic Forum signify a significant stride towards proactive wildfire management and prevention.
