In Athens, Greece, engineers at the Hellenic Space Center (HSC) are monitoring images from four satellites orbiting 550 kilometers above Earth. These satellites, Greece’s first equipped with thermal imaging technology, are designed to revolutionize wildfire response by predicting potential forest fires hours in advance through monitoring ground temperature and humidity.

Tryfon Farmakakis, a space systems scientist at the HSC, told Al Jazeera, “The satellites can tell us where the fire fronts are at night, which is extremely useful for the fire service when it’s planning the first morning water-bombing flights.” This capability marks a significant advancement for the Hellenic Fire Service, which has not previously had such precise tools.

Meanwhile, a small fire near Limni on the island of Evia went unattended for two days before winds escalated it into a massive blaze that destroyed approximately 100,000 hectares (247,100 acres) of pine forest.

Fire brigadier Alexandros Papaioannou highlighted the growing role of drones in firefighting efforts, stating, “Two years ago, we were operating 40 drones, last year 80, and this year 105. Drones have changed firefighting operations because until now, fires were spotted by lookouts eight or 10 metres [26 or 32 feet] off the ground.”

These technological advancements come as Greece faces increasing wildfire risks due to climate change, drought, and heatwaves affecting Western Europe.

Sources