Extreme wildfires are on the rise. Globally, the severity of wildfires is increasing —they spread faster and burn larger areas at higher intensities. They are responsible for a staggering 80% of the total fire-related damages, play an escalating role in the surge of global greenhouse gas emissions, and are detrimental to ecosystems.
According to a recent report released by the UN, experts predict that global wildfires will only get worse, and the likelihood of extreme, catastrophic fires could grow 33% by 2050.
In the Western U.S. wildfire frequency has increased by 400% since 1970, burning 6x more land and lasting nearly 5x longer.
In 2023, there have been 6,118 active wildfires in Canada, which have burned more than 15 million hectares, and also forced nearly 200,000 Canadians to evacuate.
We need new, innovative tools to keep up with the increasing threats and mounting challenges posed by extreme wildfire events. XPRIZE Wildfire teams will develop autonomous solutions to detect and assess high-risk fires in 10 minutes or less – a rate 4x faster than current best practices – shortening the time between detection and rapid response to inform management practices and minimize negative impacts.
