As wildfires ravage the French southeastern and Spanish northwestern forests, Madrid turned to AI and satellite technology on two fronts, as insurer Allianz and the northwestern region of Galicia separately roll out early warning systems following the worst Spain wildfires in three decades.
On July 24, Galicia’s regional government began using AI cameras, satellites and predictive software to detect northwestern Spain wildfires within minutes, helping emergency teams locate blazes faster and respond before flames spread across forests, villages and critical infrastructure.
The rollout follows Galicia’s 2025 season, when more than 118,000 hectares burned and the Larouco fire became its largest recorded blaze. Officials see this wildfire prevention technology as a vital step to reducing future damage.
AI Cameras Watch High-Risk Areas
Galicia added the system to Xeocode, its fire platform. Its wildfire detection technology checks images from 241 cameras in high-risk parishes.
Convolutional neural networks scan the feeds for smoke, heat, color changes, and movement. The AI wildfire detection technology issues an alert for technicians to verify before crews respond.
Tests showed the cameras could spot fires from 15 km away, or 25 km in favorable weather, strengthening Galicia’s wildfire fighting technology network. The aim is to cut detection from hours to minutes. Finding Spain wildfires early may stop flames from spreading overnight through remote valleys.
Regional president Alfonso Rueda said the plan would adapt to the new types of fires of enormous intensity. The $242.3 million (€213 million) programme adds staff, equipment, apps and wildfire prevention technology.
Wildfire Prevention Technology Extend Protection Across Spain
The Spanish arm of German insurer, Allianz Seguros, announced its partnership with Argentinian climate technology startups, Satellites on Fire, to launch a national wildfire detection project monitor more than 50 million hectares this summer.
Its satellite wildfire detection combines AI, satellite images and models that estimates how fires may develop.
Allianz Seguros is also working with climate-tech startup Satellites on Fire. Their satellite data brings wildfire detection technology to locations beyond the reach of ground cameras.
The project says it can detect outbreaks 35 minutes earlier than NASA-based systems, identify 30% more fires, and reduce early false negatives by 40% through satellite wildfire detection.
“As an insurer, our commitment is no longer limited to supporting people when an incident occurs but extends to anticipating risk and actively helping to prevent it,” explains Veit Stutz, CEO of Allianz Seguros. “Projects like this reflect that ambition: thanks to artificial intelligence and satellite observation, we can detect fires earlier and gain crucial time to protect people, the land, and economic activity.”
The platform supports predicting wildfires by combining heat, weather and spread simulations, showing which communities, roads and properties may face danger next.
“Spain faces the same challenge that led us to create Satellites on Fire in Argentina. Fires don’t wait and conventional systems arrive late. Working with Allianz allows us to bring our learnings from Latin America to Europe, where we have already demonstrated that earlier detection saves forests, communities, and lives,” states Franco Rodríguez Viau, CEO and co-founder of Satellites on Fire, as Spain wildfires become a growing risk.
A wildfire satellite detection function can warn Allianz policyholders through WhatsApp, email or SMS when insured property is close to a spreading fire.
“We want our clients to be better prepared for future risks. Technology allows us to move towards smarter, more preventive, and more useful protection,” says Stutz. Allianz believes satellite wildfire detection can shift insurance towards prevention.
Greece and Portugal are adopting similar systems as Spain wildfires and other southern European blazes place heavier pressure on emergency services.
Galicia cannot prevent every ignition, but faster alerts and human checks may give crews the minutes needed to stop Spain wildfires from becoming megafires.
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