FireWatch platform becomes operational for wildfire detection

The FireWatch platform, an innovative tool designed to assist in forest fire detection, is now fully operational. Developed by the French Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (DGSCGC) alongside several partners, the platform integrates satellite data with artificial intelligence to improve detection and monitoring of wildfires.

FireWatch provides real-time mapping to help emergency services increase efficiency and anticipation. Key features include the automatic detection of active fires through spatial data analysis, propagation simulations to predict fire trajectories, and vulnerability assessments to determine the defensibility of buildings in threatened areas. The deployment comes during a record-breaking wildfire season in France, where satellite monitoring systems have recorded nearly 100,000 hectares burned.