The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division has completed a pilot program with OroraTech, using satellite-based thermal intelligence to support wildfire detection, prescribed burn management, arson investigations, and firefighter safety.
The trial formed part of the Forestry Division’s wider effort to modernize wildfire and prescribed fire operations. While thermal satellite data is often used to detect remote or concealed ignitions, the Arkansas team also explored how the technology could support investigations, post-incident reviews, and more efficient use of state resources.
During the program, the Forestry Division monitored prescribed fire perimeters from space, tracking location, heat intensity, and weather conditions to help reduce the risk of escaped burns. The same satellite view also enabled officials to identify human-caused fires that had not been approved.
OroraTech’s historical thermal data was also used in multiple arson investigations. In one case, satellite thermal sensors helped verify the exact timing of an ignition and provided objective data that contradicted a suspect’s account, supporting an ongoing prosecution.
The division said the technology could also help address budget pressures. Arkansas has historically relied on an aging aerial fleet, with its newest aircraft dating back to 1979, creating significant annual maintenance costs.
According to OroraTech, detection rates are expected to increase as the company launches additional thermal satellites this year and over the next decade. The company said the expanded constellation could offer agencies a cost-effective alternative to heavier aerial investments.
Crew safety was another key focus of the trial. During the 2025 Pond Fire, four crew members survived a burn-over incident. Post-incident analysis using OroraTech data indicated that an unseen escaped spot fire had pinned the crew against the main body of the fire.
The Forestry Division and OroraTech are now exploring additional uses for the technology, including a modernized public evacuation alert system, improved software integrations for dispatch, and enhanced training to help dispatch officers analyze thermal detections and deploy resources where they are needed most.
“Arkansas is embracing technology in a big way,” said Mark Morales, OroraTech partner and former Type 1 Incident Commander. “They are just using detection as the first piece of the puzzle – they’re thinking outside the box with this.”
