The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) is deploying satellite-based thermal intelligence from OroraTech USA to enhance monitoring of prescribed burns and support wildfire response efforts across Alabama.
The technology is designed to provide additional visibility into fire activity, helping forestry officials identify potential escapes from prescribed burns, assess incidents and determine where and when a response is needed.
“Adopting the latest technology helps us detect and respond to wildfires more efficiently while improving safety for our firefighters and the people of Alabama,” said Alabama State Forester Rick Oates.
“OroraTech gives us another tool to help protect lives, property, and Alabama’s forest resources.”
AFC Protection Division Director John Goff said the technology represents the latest development in a long evolution of wildfire detection.
“The way we detect wildfires has changed a lot over the years,” Goff said. “We’ve gone from lookouts watching for smoke from fire towers to using aircraft and drones, and now we’re adding satellite technology.”
He added: “The sooner we know where a fire is, the sooner we can get resources headed that way. We’re glad to be working with OroraTech to put this technology to work for Alabama.”
Wildfires have burned more than 30,000 acres in Alabama through mid-September 2026, compared with approximately 35,000 acres during the whole of 2025 and nearly 21,000 acres in 2024.
Prescribed burning is used to manage vegetation and reduce accumulated fuels that can contribute to wildfire spread. However, such burns require monitoring to ensure fires remain within designated boundaries.
OroraTech‘s satellite technology provides an additional source of information for officials monitoring fire activity, complementing existing detection methods such as aircraft and drones.
The Alabama deployment comes as interest grows in satellite-based intelligence for wildfire management.
OroraTech’s Wildfire Solution combines data from its proprietary network of 19 satellites with information from more than two dozen public satellites to provide near-real-time intelligence on wildfire activity.
“Our vision is to work closely with fire management agencies to continually advance our products and satellite technology around how they operate, providing intelligence that fits directly into their decision-making workflows,” said Thomas Gruebler, Co-Founder of OroraTech and CEO of OroraTech USA.
Stephen Maisonet, Sales Director of OroraTech USA, said the deployment would give Alabama officials greater situational awareness across the state.
“In Alabama, that means giving the Forestry Commission greater situational awareness across the state, helping teams triage incidents as they emerge, monitor multiple fires simultaneously, and prioritize personnel, aircraft, and other resources where they are needed most,” Maisonet said.
