Google expands AI-powered wildfire tracker to 17 new countries including Kenya

Google has announced the expansion of its AI-powered Wildfire Boundary Tracker to 17 additional countries, including Kenya.

The move aims to enhance community preparedness and response to the growing threat of wildfires.

The Wildfire Boundary Tracker, available through Google Search and Maps, leverages advanced AI technology to provide real-time updates on wildfire boundaries by analysing satellite imagery and other data sources.

This tool is crucial as wildfires become increasingly frequent and severe, affecting countries across Europe and Africa.

Yossi Matias, Vice President and Head of Google Research, emphasised the significance of the expansion.

“We are committed to using technology to help people stay safe during natural disasters,” Matias said.

“By expanding our wildfire boundary tracker, we hope to empower communities with the information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Rising global temperatures

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently highlighted that rising global temperatures from fossil fuel use will likely intensify wildfires.

Although recent catastrophic fires have primarily made headlines in Australia, Europe, and North America, Africa, including Kenya, has experienced substantial wildfire impacts.

In Kenya alone, fires have caused 0.60 per cent of tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023, with 341 high-confidence fire alerts reported in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch.

The expanded wildfire tracker will provide users with alerts and essential safety tips, supporting multiple languages to cater to diverse populations.

The tool is designed to complement existing emergency response efforts and offer additional protection to at-risk communities.

The new countries included in this expansion are Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Rwanda, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey