Bulgaria's INSAIT launches FireScope AI for forest fire risk prediction

The Institute for Computer Science, AI and Technology (INSAIT) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has released FireScope AI, an artificial‑intelligence system that predicts the risk of forest fires. The platform, now available in Bulgarian, is part of a multilingual service offered in 43 languages and is being expanded to cover much of Asia. By analysing satellite imagery and climate data, FireScope AI produces high‑resolution risk maps with short explanations. In tests for Asian regions the system identified high‑risk locations in 70 % of cases, outperforming the international Fire Weather Index benchmark (62 %).

National data show that Bulgaria’s forest fire problem is worsening. Over the 2010‑2025 period an average of about 12 000 ha (120 000 decares) burned each year, with a sharp rise to roughly 450 000 decares in 2024 and 330 000 decares in 2025. The most affected areas are in the southeast and southwest, driven by climate‑induced longer fire seasons and more extreme droughts. The report highlights funding gaps, the need for rapid aerial response, and that about 10 % of fires are crown fires, which are especially destructive.