Wildfires have recently impacted areas of British Columbia, prompting the Province to declare a state of emergency on August 8th. In response, Telus has committed $2 million. The capital is earmarked for network connectivity, data top-ups and bill credits for affected customers, and donations and support to charities such as Salvation Army BC, according to […]
Search Results for: wildfire
Wildfire Season Peak Prompts Rogers to Offer Free Satellite Service Across B.C.
With wildfires impacting areas of British Columbia, the Province recently declared a state of emergency. In response, Rogers Communications confirmed that it has opened up its Rogers Satellite service free province-wide for all wireless customers. “We’re committed to helping British Columbians affected by these devastating wildfires,” stated Rogers chief executive officer Tony Staffieri. Rogers Satellite […]
WildFire Ready Expands Map as Startup Adds Slew of New Features to App
Earlier this year, an entrepreneur based in northern British Columbia launched a free app in response to rising wildfires in Canada. Jeff Parr, a former oil sector employee and self-taught coder, says WildFire Ready keeps users informed by pulling live data from official feeds (such as BC Wildfire Service, DriveBC, and EmergencyInfoBC) and displaying it […]
Skyward Granted $1M to Field Test Wildfire Detection Technology in B.C.
As summer season approaches, a Vancouver-based startup is preparing to conduct a field trial to assess whether its technology can reduce the frequency of wildfires ignited by lightning. Through the Province’s Integrated Marketplace program, delivered by Innovate BC, Skyward Wildfire Technologies is receiving up to $1 million to test the effectiveness of its lightning-caused wildfire […]
WildFire Ready Compiles Live Data into Map So You Can Monitor the Situation
An entrepreneur based in northern British Columbia has launched a free app in response to rising wildfires in Canada. Jeff Parr, a former oil sector employee and self-taught coder, says WildFire Ready keeps users informed by pulling live data from official feeds and displaying it on a single map. This includes active wildfires as tracked […]
NorthX Invests $2.2M into Three Local Startups Innovating Wildfire Technology
NorthX Climate Tech is investing $2.2 million in three British Columbian companies, the organization announced this week. NorthX says its $2.2M of follow-on capital is earmarked for CRWN.ai, Nova, and Skyward Wildfire Technologies. Wildfire risk “is no longer seasonal,” posits NorthX chief executive officer Sarah Goodman. “It’s structural.” CRWN.ai, Nova, and Skyward Wildfire Technologies are […]
Genome BC Funds Research as UBC and SFU Study Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Exposure
Genome BC is funding three research projects oriented around genetic-level impacts of wildfire smoke exposure. The not-for-profit organization, which supports genomics innovation in British Columbia, says the projects aim to help vulnerable populations. Suzanne Gill, who serves Genome BC as chief executive officer, says the projects are “specifically designed to uncover what makes our vulnerable […]
Startup of the Year Finalist FireSwarm Takes Aim at Wildfires with Jet Drones
With wildfires growing more destructive across the globe, one B.C. startup is taking the fight to the skies—literally. FireSwarm Solutions, a finalist for the Company of the Year – Startup award at the 2025 BC Tech Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), is developing autonomous, ultra heavy-lift drone swarms that can suppress wildfires 24/7, including overnight when conventional […]
FireSwarm Advances in $11M XPRIZE Wildfire Challenge
Squamish startup FireSwarm Solutions has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious XPRIZE Wildfire competition, joining 14 other global teams advancing in the USD $11 million initiative to develop autonomous technologies that can detect and suppress wildfires in minutes. Founded in 2023 during Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, FireSwarm is developing heavy-lift drone swarms […]
FireSwarm Unveils Latest Partnership to Combat Wildfires in BC with AI Drones
In 2024, nearly 1,700 wildfires burned a combined one million hectares of land in British Columbia. Roughly 160 evacuation orders or alerts affected over 15,000 properties province-wide. One-third of wildfires are caused by human activity, the Province estimates, with the rest being attributed to natural factors such as lightning. Whether man-made or nature-triggered, controlling and […]