Fire Season Across the Globe:
TECHNOLOGY & TACTICS FOR YEAR-ROUND PREPAREDNESS
A common public perception of "fire season" is a short burst of weeks when hot, dry conditions make wildfires more likely. But globally, wildfires pose a year-round threat, extending beyond the traditional summer months to regularly occur in winter and early spring.
In fact, a comprehensive study of 35 years of meteorological data from NASA reveals that fire seasons are now more than a month longer than they were in the 1980s. Factors such as rising maximum temperatures and wind speeds, as well as lower relative humidity and prolonged dry spells contribute to the increased risk of wildfires, making them more likely to spread, and lengthen fire seasons.
Given these evolving conditions, it's clear fire departments, municipalities, and industries must adopt a year-round approach to fire preparedness. This includes leveraging advanced tools that can detect potential fire hazards early, support strategic firefighting decisions, and safeguard both personnel and property.
Early Fire Detection
A recent NFPA summary indicates that from 2017 to 2021, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 36,784 fires per year at industrial or manufacturing facilities, resulting in more than $1.5 billion in direct property damage annually.
These fires not only threaten infrastructure and lives but also risk spreading to surrounding areas, even traveling long distances in the wind to fields, farmlands, or forests.
Early fire detection (EFD) with a thermal imaging camera offers a proactive solution. Unlike traditional reactive methods, these intuitive and intelligent systems can monitor materials and identify potential ignition points before flames erupt.
Using active thermal imaging to detect hot spots in real-time means automated solutions can be triggered once a pre-set threshold has been reached or exceeded. This element is crucial, as the cause for concern will be different for almost every facility and every environment. It also needs to be able to factor in the ambient heat emissivity of the location, materials, personnel, and vehicles to avoid prematurely raising the alarm.
Thermal smart cameras such as the Flir A700f employ built-in software to isolate regions of interest (ROIs) and report minimum, average, and maximum temperatures from the regions the user creates. They can operate autonomously or integrate with other systems like PLCs and computers to trigger preventive actions. Custom EFD solutions using Flir automation cameras can send alerts at the earliest signs of temperature anomalies, allowing for timely intervention to protect assets and prevent equipment failure.
Flir A700f Advanced Smart Sensor
Built for extreme industrial heat zones, the A700f delivers continuous thermal imaging with programmable alarms that can integrate with existing SCADA or fire suppression systems.
This high-performance pan-tilt-zoom camera offers 640 × 512 resolution, a 4K visible-light imaging sensor, and 25× optical zoom.
This rugged, multispectral fixed sensor combines a thermal, radiometric stream with a 4K visible camera to provide rapid, early fire detection and visual verification of the incident as it unfolds.
Intelligent Fire Spotting
Remote fire detection is vital for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response. It's especially important for industrial timber forests, as their uniform tree spacing and dense underbrush are 1.5x more likely to experience high-severity fires.1
This is why high-resolution infrared cameras with optical zoom capabilities are critical tools for forestry departments. Because infrared "sees" heat, these cameras detect the hot spots that could indicate the start of a fire. When the cameras are enhanced with AI video analytics, they can reliably alarm on fire behavior and provide the vital information needed to scale response.
Typically employed for perimeter security, Flir's thermal and multispectral pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can offer 24/7 coverage with 360° views of spaces that are at risk for wildfire. Firefighters can also use PTZ security cameras to track an active fire, thanks to high-fidelity thermal imagery that can show active flames, even through thick smoke.
With simplified integration into existing video surveillance systems (ONVIF, VMS) and continuous tracking via the Flir Nexus® sensor, this thermal camera is the ideal solution for monitoring large areas and detecting hot spots or fire outbreaks before they escalate.
1Levine, J., Collins, B., Coppoletta, M., & Stephens, S. (August, 2025) Extreme Weather Magnifies the Effects of Forest Structure on Wildfire, Driving Increased Severity in Industrial Forests Global Change Biology
Active Fire Protection of Ancient Forests
The Puglia region of southern Italy contains unquestionable beauty, including 35,000 acres of forestland. Preserving the region’s natural resources is not an easy task due to the complex terrain, high temperatures, and scarce summer rainfall. Spontaneous and man-made forest fires severely threaten the ecosystem. That's why the region's forest agency brought in Flir thermal security cameras to detect fires in their earliest stages—before any smoke or flames are visible.
Handheld TICs for Firefighters
Navigating through dense smoke and identifying fire victims requires precision and clarity. This is where having the right handheld thermal imaging camera, or TIC, can make all the difference.
Whether firefighters are evaluating the scene from outside or monitoring dynamic fire conditions from within, a tactical TIC provides the detailed imagery and fast frame rates needed for operators to make informed, mission-critical decisions with confidence.
Tactical TICs such as the new Flir K75 and K85 feature Wi-Fi connectivity to the new Flir Responder App for camera configuration, media handling, and live-streaming that allows departments to train and document missions. Others, such as the Flir K65, are designed to be fully compliant with the NFPA 1801-2018 Standard for Thermal Imagers covering usability, image quality, and durability for firefighting.
For broader deployment, many departments opt for lower-resolution situational TICs, ensuring every crewmember has access to thermal imaging. These rugged devices restore visibility in low-light and smoky environments, aiding in mop-up operations and hot spot detection.
Flir Kx3-, Kx5-, and Kxx-Series TICs all offer features such as FSX® image enhancement, which displays sharp outlines on thermal images to help firefighters recognize shapes and even people in hazy or smoky conditions. Flir MSX®, featured in the compact Flir K2 camera, provides similar edge detail from an integrated visual camera.
1200 Degrees is the largest supplier of fire trucks and equipment in Canada, providing firefighting equipment to crews across the provinces. In 2017, the company built a relationship with Flir to advance its goals of improving firefighting techniques and enhancing crew safety. Its adoption of the K-Series cameras has empowered incident commanders to make better decisions and improved outcomes in hazardous materials response and search and rescue operations.
“We use the K-Series as it is perfect for the fire industry. While we are not the end user, our clients could tell us that the quality of the images has helped them to do their job properly and safely… And with the Flir cameras, you can use them with just one hand, which is also a game changer.”
—Guillaume Rondeau, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of 1200 Degrees
Enhanced Search & Rescue
When seconds matter, search and rescue tools such as infrared monocular cameras can make all the difference. These extended-range thermal cameras allow users to locate missing persons in challenging environments such as dense vegetation or complete darkness.
Developed in collaboration with law enforcement and public safety professionals, the Flir Scout Pro offers high clarity and a streamlined interface for uninterrupted focus. The streamlined user interface and information system ensure live image visibility and continuous focus on observed objects, people, or areas without obstruction or confusion.
"Whether you're looking for a fugitive, a lost child, or a silver alert for an elderly person, it gives you that ability in the dark to locate that missing person or whatever it may be."
—Mike Willis, United States Deputy Sheriff's Association
Conclusion
As wildfires become a year-round global threat, the importance of proactive fire detection and response has never been greater. From industrial facilities to remote forests, and urban search and rescue missions, the integration of advanced thermal imaging and intelligent monitoring technologies is transforming how we prepare for and respond to fire emergencies.
Tools such as Flir’s fixed-mount cameras, pan-tilt-zoom systems, and handheld TICs empower firefighters, public safety teams, and industry leaders to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and operate more safely in high-risk environments.
By investing in these innovations and embracing a culture of continuous preparedness, communities and organizations can better protect lives, property, and natural resources in an increasingly fire-prone world.
