According to NASA, extreme wildfire activity has more than doubled worldwide over the last two decades. And while wildfire season is dying down across North America and Europe, it’s just getting ready to pick back up in Australia and other areas of the Southern Hemisphere.
Managing these disasters requires innovative wildfire response solutions — ones that combine cutting-edge technology, interagency collaboration and human resilience.
Last month, Hexagon hosted a virtual media event titled “Smarter, faster, safer: The new era of wildfire response.” It was an enlightening discussion about the evolving landscape of wildfire management.
Joining me on the panel were Bret Sackett, executive director of the Sonoma County Public Safety Consortium; Jay Brooks, project manager and interface developer for Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division, former captain of the Lindell Fire Department and former fire marshal and emergency management coordinator for Smith County, Texas; and our moderator Nikki Davidson of Government Technology magazine.
Below are some key takeaways from our discussion.
Improved communication and technology integration
The October 2017 Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County burned more than 36,800 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in 22 deaths. That fire highlighted critical wildfire response communication failures, including the loss of over 55 cell towers and inadequate community alert systems.
Sackett noted, “Although we thought we had established good lines of communication with our communities, we quickly realized there was more work to be done.”
Social media, once overlooked as a communication tool, has since become a crucial platform for public safety messaging.
Emphasis was put on the evolution of dispatch centers into “response and orchestration centers,” capable of integrating diverse technologies and creating intelligent workflows. Tools like AI-driven data and call summaries and GeoAI (AI-enhanced satellite mapping and analytics) now enable real-time data aggregation, predictive modeling and actionable insights for first responders.
Enhanced situational awareness and resource allocation
Brooks talked about the importance of situational awareness, recalling lessons from the 2011 Texas wildfires, saying, “Communication was absolutely the critical piece we were missing.”
Today, wildfire response technologies like drones, satellite imaging and AI-driven fire cameras provide real-time updates, helping responders track fast-moving fires and plan evacuations effectively.
Sackett shared how Sonoma County has implemented well-defined evacuation zones, AI-driven statewide monitoring and resource staging to address spot fires quickly.
“We can scramble resources lickety-split to get eyes on it,” he said, referencing the use of fire planes and helicopters.
Collaboration and interagency coordination
The Tubbs Fire revealed the need for better interagency cooperation. Sackett acknowledged that managing multiple fires across Sonoma County in 2017 was “way too big for us to handle on our own,” requiring support from CalFire, other western states and Canada.
Advances in interoperability now allow agencies to share data seamlessly. The technology has been around to collaborate, but the ease of collaboration is what has improved.
Improvements include advanced tools like HxGN Connect, a cloud-based collaboration portal that allows multiple agencies to join with just an emailed link to the platform.
The role of AI and predictive modeling
Predictive modeling has become an important advancement in wildfire response. AI tools analyze GIS layers, weather data and satellite inputs to predict fire behavior and recommend evacuation routes.
Sackett explained, “As we go forward with GeoAI, routes will change… The ability to readjust routes based on sensors and satellite information in seconds will save more lives.”
Human element in decision-making
While AI and automation are advancing, the panelists stressed the importance of human oversight.
“You can never take out the human element in this,” said Sackett. “Hopefully, you’ve got trained professionals who can take these sources recommended by AI and make sure we’re reading it correctly.”
What’s next?
We’re optimistic about the future of wildfire response and firefighting technology, which continues to evolve. Emerging technologies will offer next-level mapping and workflow automation. More than that, however, it’s important to remember that collaboration and human resilience are critical components of effective wildfire response — and keeping our communities and first responders safe.
Bill Campbell
Bill Campbell is senior vice president for Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division, leading the Americas region and the global public safety business. He joined Hexagon with more than 20 years of management, sales and marketing experience. Prior to Hexagon, Campbell served as global sales officer and vice president of the technology services business at Capgemini and held executive positions at General Electric Information Services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a Master of Business Administration from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Service and Administration and graduate certificate in homeland security from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
