Seven micro satellites are being built to monitor active wildfires across Canada, which will provide data to fire managers and other authorities, and will enable the experts to track fire behaviour, identify high-risk wildfires and make informed decisions to better protect Canadians, especially those in remote and northern communities.

In a news release the Government of Canada states that on average, about 8,000 wildfires burn over 2.1 million hectares of forest every year, which is almost half the size of Nova Scotia. About $1 billion is spent to combat the fires.

Satellite Earth observation can provide daily data across the country. Spire Global Canada has been awarded a $72 million contract for the design of Canada’s first micro satellites. The news release explains that the satellites will use advanced infrared sensors to capture thermal images to see where the fires are and assess their intensity and spread. The satellites are expected to launch in 2029.

According to the Saskatoon Public Safety Agency, with the latest statistics from 2023, there were 505 wildfires in the province that year and 101 of them were larger than 100 hectares