Why is wildfire prevention important?

The Growing Wildfire Problem

Wildfires are no longer a problem limited to traditionally "hot" countries. In recent years, nations once considered low risk, such as the Netherlands and Canada, have faced increasingly severe fire seasons.

In 2024 alone, the European Union invested €600 million to bolster its wildfire suppression capabilities, including the purchase of 12 new aircraft to support aerial firefighting operations (Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, 2024). This investment demonstrates how seriously the EU is taking the threat.

But while suppression is necessary, it raises a critical question: Are we only reacting to wildfires instead of addressing their root causes? What if the same level of attention and funding went into prevention?

Wildfire Prevention: A Smarter Strategy

Rather than focusing all our resources on fighting fires once they ignite, we need to prioritise stopping them before they start.

Think of wildfire prevention like routine maintenance on a car: you don’t wait for the engine to break down, you service it to avoid the breakdown altogether. Prevention is proactive, cost-effective, and often far less destructive than firefighting.

In fact, every dollar spent on wildfire prevention can save communities between $5 and $10 in suppression and recovery costs (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2017).

How to prevent wildfires?

That is where LUCI comes in.

LUCI is an AI-powered wildfire prevention tool designed to keep communities one step ahead of the fire. Whether it is wildfire season or not, LUCI continuously analyses your land to detect high-risk zones. It provides clear insights into when, where, and why a wildfire could ignite, empowering you to take targeted, preventive actions before a fire ever starts.

Are You Ready to Fight Wildfires at the Source?

It’s time to shift the mindset from reaction to prevention. Let LUCI help you tackle the wildfire crisis at its core—intelligently, proactively, and sustainably.

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References:

Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. (2024, March 25). EU provides €600 million to strengthen rescEU firefighting fleet. European Commission. https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/news/eu-provides-eu600-million-strengthen-resceu-firefighting-fleet-2024-03-25_en

National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2017). Costs and losses of wildfires. https://www.nist.gov/publications/costs-and-losses-wildfires