Beyond early detection: How Arkansas Forestry is using space-based tech for innovative wildfire management
Beyond early detection: How Arkansas Forestry is using space-based tech for innovative wildfire management
When we write about our satellite thermal intelligence, the first thing that comes to mind is usually early wildfire detection or ongoing management.
But the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Forestry Division, is proving that the view from orbit can go far below the surface. In a recently completed pilot program with OroraTech, the Division took space-based data and applied it to some of their most complex, on-the-ground challenges: protecting crew safety, stretching operational budgets, and even helping arson cases.
Modernizing a 1970s fleet from space
For decades, forestry departments have relied heavily on aerial fleets for fire spotting and perimeter mapping. Those fleets are aging rapidly. The Arkansas Forestry Division’s newest aircraft dates back to 1979. When used for statewide, constant operation, that fleet brings staggering annual maintenance costs.
As state budgets tighten, agencies are forced to find smarter, more cost-effective ways to manage resources.
“When we dispatch aircraft, we catch between four and seven percent of fires early,” explained Wesley McKinney of the Forestry Division. “Satellites catch fires too, and they’re less expensive.”
By tapping into OroraTech’s growing network of thermal satellites, Arkansas has found a sustainable, highly scalable alternative to ongoing aerial investments. Our solution allows them to focus their aerial assets on key missions, without sacrificing situational awareness.
Safety first: Learning from the 2025 Pond Fire
Above all operational metrics, crew safety is the ultimate priority for fire command. Wildland firefighting is inherently dangerous, but space-based data is helping command centers understand exactly what happens when things go wrong so they can prevent it in the future.
During the 2025 Pond Fire, four crew members survived a burn-over incident. In the aftermath, the Forestry Division used OroraTech’s thermal data to conduct a post-incident analysis. The satellite imagery revealed a hidden detail: an unseen, escaped spot fire had actually pinned the crew against the main body of the fire.
This objective data is now an invaluable tool for future risk assessments and live mitigation.
“We expose our people to high-risk environments every day,” McKinney noted. “We want to transfer as much of that risk as possible away from our crews and onto technology like satellites.”
Catching arsonists and securing prescribed burns
Arkansas isn’t just looking at massive wildfires; they are monitoring everyday land management.
Prescribed burns are an essential tool for forest health, but they require strict monitoring to ensure they don't escape. The Division used satellite monitoring to track fire perimeters, heat intensity, and local weather conditions to keep approved burns in check.
That same orbital view also allowed them to spot unauthorized, human-caused fires. OroraTech’s historical thermal data became a key piece of evidence in multiple arson investigations. In one case, the exact ignition times captured by satellite sensors directly contradicted a suspect’s timeline – providing investigators with solid evidence to support prosecution.
Thinking outside the box
The successful trial in Arkansas is only a first step. The Forestry Division is already looking ahead, exploring how OroraTech’s platform could power a modernized public evacuation alert system, integrate seamlessly with dispatch software, and train officers to commit resources with pinpoint accuracy.
As OroraTech partner and former Type 1 Incident Commander Mark Morales put it:
“Arkansas is embracing technology in a big way. Wes and his team are just using detection as the first piece of the puzzle – they’re thinking outside the box with this.”
By treating space-based thermal intelligence as a multi-purpose toolkit rather than a single-purpose solution, Arkansas is creating a new model for how wildland fire responders can operate in the 21st century. OroraTech is proud to support their continued innovation.