BCBusiness
From drones and satellite imaging to real-time grid monitoring, these B.C. startups are pioneering cutting-edge tools to detect, manage and prevent wildfires across the province.
Wildfire season is well underway in B.C., with at least 612 wildfires started and 722,909 hectares already burned across the province this year alone. As fires grow more frequent and destructive due to climate change, a wave of innovation is rising to meet the crisis. Local tech startups have risen to the occasion, building tools to help detect, suppress and adapt to wildfires—from fire-resistant construction materials to drone fleets and grid-monitoring platforms that prevent power line ignitions. Below, we spotlight a crop of B.C.-based tech startups helping the province fight wildfire season with innovation.
Electrical tracking on transmission line insulators is a major but often invisible wildfire risk—one that typically goes undetected for years. Most utilities still rely on manual inspections every 7–8 years, leaving long gaps with little to no real-time oversight. Kelowna-based CRWN.ai is changing that. Its core technology—the CRWN Condition Recognition Wireless Network—uses IoT sensors, frequency analysis and machine learning to monitor transmission lines in real time. By identifying high-risk defects before they cause ignition, the system enables early-stage intervention rather than reactive suppression. With more than 100 devices already deployed and partnerships with major utilities underway, CRWN.ai is helping transform wildfire prevention from periodic inspections to continuous insight, all backed by lab-verified data.
Vancouver-based SenseNet has built what it calls the “most comprehensive wildfire platform on the market.” The startup integrates data from a wide range of sources—sensors, satellites, weather stations, cameras and more—to deliver real-time insights for wildfire detection, monitoring and emergency response. Its platform equips first responders, communities and corporations with timely, actionable information to help protect people, ecosystems and critical infrastructure. Since its launch, SenseNet has been making bold moves: in 2023, it secured US$1 million in funding from the TiE Incubation Lab and entered into strategic partnerships with fellow tech firms like SkyScout AI and Juvare. As wildfires become more complex and fast-moving, SenseNet is positioning itself as a go-to resource for data-driven decision-making.
Victoria-based Circular Industries is taking a high-tech, high-precision approach to wildfire control with its fleet of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). Designed for agility and durability, these drones can operate in remote, rugged terrain—day or night, rain or shine. Rather than relying solely on large-scale suppression tactics, Circular’s UAVs support both prescribed burns and rapid response to early-stage wildfires. The goal: stop fires before they spread, while supporting healthy forest management. By addressing fires surgically and strategically, the company aims to shift wildfire response from reactive to preventative—delivering smarter, faster interventions where and when they matter most.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by FireSwarm Solutions Inc (@fireswarminc)
A post shared by FireSwarm Solutions Inc (@fireswarminc)
Founded in the aftermath of the 2023 Gun Lake wildfire, FireSwarm Solutions is bringing next-generation fire suppression to the skies. Based in Squamish, B.C., the company has developed autonomous, jet-engine, heavy-lift drones that can deliver water and retardant to hard-to-reach areas—day or night, even in low-visibility or dangerous conditions. “I realized we need automated, around-the-clock firefighting solutions,” said CEO Alex Deslauriers. “Fire doesn’t stop at sunset—our response shouldn’t either.”
The modular drones are truck-portable, quick to deploy, and designed to operate in coordinated swarms, filling a critical gap in current aerial firefighting capabilities. FireSwarm’s fully automated platform is built for speed, precision and safety, offering wildfire defence to governments, fire crews, forestry managers, First Nations and vulnerable industries alike.
Vancouver-based Metaspectral is pushing the boundaries of wildfire detection from space. A semifinalist in 2024’s XPRIZE Wildfire competition, the startup is using AI and hyperspectral satellite imagery to detect wildfires in high-risk areas in under a minute. Its remote sensing software quantifies available fuel sources, models emerging threats,and supports proactive forest management strategies like prescribed burns. Metaspectral’s in-house technology enables real-time processing and transmission of massive volumes of hyperspectral data without sacrificing accuracy—an essential step in building faster, more intelligent wildfire detection systems that can help prevent disaster before it strikes.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voxelis AI (@voxelisai)
A post shared by Voxelis AI (@voxelisai)
Vancouver-based Voxelis is rethinking aerial firefighting with its flagship technology, VoxVision—a bowling ball-sized device equipped with cameras and powered by an AI software platform. Mounted onto firefighting helicopters, VoxVision gives pilots a clearer view of wildfire zones through thermal scanning and live mapping, helping them safely and precisely navigate smoke-filled skies. The system also autonomously gathers environmental and atmospheric data mid-flight, offering predictive insights into how a wildfire might behave. By combining real-time situational awareness with forecasting power, Voxelis is helping firefighting crews make smarter, faster decisions in the air.
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