As Europe burns, firetech startups push new solutions: ‘We urgently need better tools'

Wildfires have ravaged southern Europe this year, engulfing vast swathes of land – and homes – from Portugal to Greece.

And as the world heats up, wildfires like these are getting more intense and frequent. That’s put pressure on already stretched governments and their firefighting teams, many of which rely on volunteers.

“Southern Europe’s record-breaking wildfires show how urgently we need better tools to anticipate and manage fire behaviour,” Daniel Fredrich, COO and co-founder of AI startup Pinepeak, tells Impact Loop.

Getting ahead of the blaze

Pinepeak’s technology is built on a physics-based computer model that was first created for jet engine research.

The model was designed to measure turbulence and air currents – the chaotic movements of air that affect how engines burn fuel. Those same forces also play a major role in how wildfires spread, which is why the model can be adapted for fire prediction.

On top of that is an AI algorithm trained on vast amounts of satellite-based observations of wildfires. Combined, the models underpin Pinepeak’s platform, dubbed Flamesight.

Flamesight is designed to predict the probability that a wildfire will occur and how it might spread across the landscape. The companies early tests show the tool is up to 90% accurate.

The potential applications are wide-ranging, says Fredrich.

“The platform can be used by firefighters in the field to predict how a blaze will evolve across any terrain, weather, and fuel, enabling faster and more targeted suppression,” says the founder, who holds a PhD in computational fluid dynamics from Imperial College London (ICL).

“At the same time, authorities and communities can use it to assess risks and evaluate the impact of mitigation measures such as fuel breaks, building codes, or evacuation planning well in advance of future fire events.”

To cope with the rise in wildfires, governments are increasingly leaning on technology – and startups have been quick to jump in.

Firetech is heating up

In Europe, fire brigades are trialling long-range drones, like those from Dutch company Avy, to spot wildfires early and map their spread in real time.

Berlin-based Dryad Networks has raised a total of €25m to develop a network of sensors that ‘smell’ forest fires before they burn out of control.

Meanwhile, German startup OroraTech is taking the fight to space. Its thermal imaging satellites, powered by AI, promise to detect wildfires within minutes of ignition, anywhere on the planet.

But tech is only part of the answer. “Tackling this crisis also requires stronger cross-border cooperation and sustained investment in long-term resilience,” admits Fredrich.

While its early days at Pinepeak, the new venture hopes it can successfully bring its technology out of the lab and into the market – and is well located to succeed.

Turning science into startups

Fredrich co-founded Pinepeak with three fellow scientists: Andrea Guisti, professor of multi-fluid physics at Imperial College London; Dr Savvas Gkantonas, a wildfire modelling expert at Cambridge; and Epaminondas Mastorakos, a Cambridge professor specialising in combustion science.

It’s one of thousands of startups to spring from the University of Cambridge. The institution produces more high-value spin-offs than any other institution in Europe, according to Dealroom.

In April, Pinepeak raised $322k (€277k) in pre-seed funding from Greek investors Genesis Ventures and Theti Club Angels, as well as Founders at the University of Cambridge, which provides funding and support for Cambridge spin-offs.