Idaho Becomes First US State to Deploy Statewide Satellite Wildfire Detection System

The Idaho Department of Lands is partnering with OroraTech USA to deploy a statewide satellite-based wildfire detection and monitoring system, making Idaho the first U.S. state to implement such technology across its entire territory. The system will use OroraTech’s Wildfire Solution platform, leveraging both proprietary and public satellites with thermal imaging to detect heat anomalies and emerging fires in near real time.

The initiative is designed to deliver fire location, intensity and predicted spread within minutes to dispatch centers and firefighting teams, improving decision-making during wildfire events. It is expected to help with both remote wilderness areas and populated regions.

OroraTech recently raised roughly€25 million (about US$27 million) in Series B funding to expand its satellite network and improve predictive artificial intelligence capabilities. The company currently operates a constellation of 10 proprietary nano-satellites, and combines those with data from additional public satellites to increase coverage.

While the full financial terms of Idaho’s deployment were not disclosed, the project builds on OroraTech’s recent growth in the U.S., including opening its U.S. headquarters in Denver. The scale of the system is statewide, with continuous monitoring through cloud or smoke, and predictive modelling to anticipate fire spread.