In 2026, the UK has already seen a significant increase in wildfire activity, with more than 1,000 recorded, and July marking a record high. Fire services are dealing with increasingly dry conditions, extreme heat and fires spreading into areas where communities and infrastructure are at risk.
The question is no longer whether the UK needs to prepare for more frequent and challenging wildfires. It's how quickly it can adapt.
Wildfire risk is no longer a problem for tomorrow, and it can no longer be tackled through traditional approaches alone.
As conditions become harder to predict, fire and rescue services, land managers and emergency planners need better ways to see what is happening, understand what could happen next and act before a small fire becomes a major incident.
Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of that response, from AI-powered cameras and thermal drones to satellite monitoring, predictive modelling and connected mapping systems.
And the technology is moving quickly. Some of these tools are already being used by emergency services today, while others could fundamentally change how wildfires are managed in the years ahead.
So, what is already making a difference, and where could wildfire technology go next?
AI-powered cameras continuously scan for smoke or flames and use AI to flag potential fires for human verification. They are increasingly used across wildfire-prone areas in southern Europe, while North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has trialled the technology in the UK. They are already commercially available, although fog, dust and lighting can affect accuracy. Research has also shown AI cameras on drones can achieve over 99% fire-detection accuracy.
Thermal imaging drones use infrared cameras to detect heat signatures that may not be visible to the naked eye, making them useful for finding hotspots and monitoring fire spread. They are increasingly used by fire and forestry services across the UK and Europe. In 2025, Forestry and Land Scotland used one to identify hidden hotspots following a peatland fire on Dava Moor. The technology is commercially available, but works best alongside other detection methods.
Wildfire detection satellites use thermal and infrared sensors to identify heat signatures from space, allowing large and remote areas to be monitored. Across Europe, Copernicus EFFIS already uses satellite data for fire detection, mapping and risk assessment. Greece is taking this further with four thermal-imaging CubeSats designed specifically to detect wildfires, including heat sources as small as 4m x 4m. Satellite detection is already proven at scale, while newer systems are pushing towards faster detection of smaller fires.
AI-powered modelling goes beyond detecting a fire by predicting where it could spread next, using data such as weather, wind, terrain and vegetation. The European Commission is developing wildfire risk modelling that combines these data sources to improve prediction and planning. Still emerging, the technology could help emergency teams decide where to deploy resources before a fire spreads.
Real-time fire risk mapping combines weather and environmental data to show where conditions are most likely to support wildfire. In the UK, the Fire Severity Index uses factors such as rainfall, drought, wind, temperature and humidity to assess potential fire severity. Across Europe, EFFIS provides fire danger maps, hotspot information and fire perimeters. It turns changing weather conditions into information responders can act on.
Under-canopy sensors are small devices placed throughout forests to monitor conditions such as temperature, humidity, smoke and gases. The aim is to detect changes beneath the tree canopy that cameras or satellites may struggle to see. Still an emerging technology, they could provide another layer of early warning.
Connected incident mapping brings different datasets into one live picture, combining information such as fire location, weather, terrain, roads, communities and emergency resources. The European Commission is developing geospatial platforms to support this kind of emergency decision-making. The value is not simply more data, but bringing the right information together when it is needed.
Drones give fire commanders an aerial view of incidents, helping teams monitor fire behaviour, identify hotspots and assess difficult terrain without putting crews at risk. They are already being used by UK fire services, including during the New Forest wildfire. Thermal cameras, autonomous flight and drone swarms could further expand their role.
Wildfire technology is not just about sensors and software. Specialist vehicles and equipment are being adapted to help crews reach fires in difficult terrain. London Fire Brigade's Terrain Support Vehicles carry water, backpack blowers, beaters and misting lances, helping firefighters get closer to fires on open ground. Detecting a fire is only half the challenge - crews still need to be able to reach it!
Technology can help detect and track wildfires, but the final step is getting the right warning to people quickly. Systems such as France's FR-Alert use geolocation to send emergency warnings to people in affected areas. Cell broadcast, emergency apps and digital evacuation mapping can add further layers of protection. Ultimately, people need to receive the warning, trust it, and know what to do next.
The future of wildfire response won’t be about one breakthrough technology. It will be about bringing multiple technologies together - detecting fires earlier, monitoring how they develop, predicting where they could spread and giving crews the information they need to act faster. The result could be a more proactive approach to wildfire, with technology helping responders get ahead of the fire rather than simply reacting to it.
Register your Interest for the Fire Safety Event 2027 | NEC Birmingham | 27-29 April 2027: The Fire Safety Event.
Subscribe to Fire Safety Digital for monthly updates.