Fighting fire with technology
We believe climate resilience begins with bold ideas—but real impact comes from turning those ideas into tangible solutions. Bridging the gap from concept to deployment and scale takes more than innovation; it demands investment, expertise, and a strong, supportive community.
That’s why we are proud to have partnered with BetaKit to develop The BetaKit Guide: Wildfire, an informative resource that highlights the tech, investment, and efforts we urgently need and the barriers standing in the way of it getting built.
“Wildfires are an increasingly serious threat. In a bad fire season, emissions from wildfires can actually surpass those from the entire economy,” says Sarah Goodman, President & CEO of NorthX. “Canada, unfortunately—but also fortunately—has a lot of experience with wildfires. Our strengths in forest management, the integration of Indigenous knowledge, and a thriving cleantech sector provide a strong foundation for Canada to lead in advancing wildfire technology.”
Canadian wildfires are no longer seasonal challenges; they have lasting impacts. In 2023, over 16.5 million hectares burned, 200 communities were evacuated, and 640 million metric tonnes of carbon were released into the atmosphere. To truly protect communities and support frontline responders, we need greater, sustained investment in advanced tools and systems that can prevent, detect, and manage wildfires at scale. The scale of the crisis demands a new kind of response, one that blends Indigenous knowledge, public policy, and cutting-edge technology.
“Canada should be leading and developing the wildfire tech solutions that we need here at home, and that the world needs,” adds Sarah.
That’s why NorthX is committed to advancing tangible, scalable solutions to this growing problem. Whether through our 2024 Call for Innovation: Wildfire Tech, showcasing groundbreaking technologies in the Climate Innovation Zone at Web Summit Vancouver, or sourcing the next wave of innovative wildfire tech through a second dedicated funding opportunity to be announced later this year, NorthX is committed to backing the builders of wildfire hard tech.
The BetaKit Guide: Wildfire not only covers the need to innovate but also highlights leading Canadian startups, including CRWN.ai’s AI-powered detection systems and FireSwarm Solutions’ autonomous drone fleets, all working to tackle this growing concern. It also explores what’s needed on the frontline through an in-depth interview with BC Wildfire Service.
