Wildfire Maps Now Cover New Regions in Europe and Africa
In July, wildfires raged across the Greek islands of Kos, Chios, and Crete, keeping firefighters busy through the night. Meanwhile, in Spain's Extremadura region, authorities mobilized 60 personnel to tackle one of the 18 forest fires threatening the area. Over in Cyprus, a wildfire in the Paphos region was sparked by light refracted through broken glass. Reports suggest that fire-prone areas in Europe have doubled over the past 50 years.
Thanks to AI, we can now track wildfire boundaries in detail on Search and Maps, and send location-based push notifications. This summer, we're rolling out this tool to 15 more countries in Europe and Africa:
- Andorra
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- France
- Greece
- Italy
- Kenya
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Türkiye
We're making this info available through alerts and features that help folks stay safe near wildfires.
Accurate and Reliable Tracking
Google's AI-powered wildfire tracking model uses a bunch of data sources, including different satellite imagery sets. We check our model against our own fire scar model—shapes we figure out after a fire's been put out—based on past wildfire data. Other AI models help confirm if there's really a fire, which all together gives us more accurate wildfire boundaries than just using satellite images.
Accessible and Useful Information When People Need It
As we rolled out this new feature this summer, we mapped over 40 wildfires in southern Europe, including fires in Spain, Greece, and Cyprus last month, and others from Portugal to Kenya.
We displayed these wildfire boundaries on Search and Maps and sent out notifications to help people stay informed and safe. In the first week of July alone, over 1.4 million people saw our wildfire info after fires broke out across Europe and Africa.
Our wildfire boundary tracking is designed to be helpful for both locals and tourists who might not speak the local language. Notifications are tailored based on user settings and preferred languages, so travelers can get timely, local wildfire updates in their own language during peak tourist season.
We also overlay this info on Google Maps driving directions, so travelers can see if there are wildfires near their planned route.
This is just one way we're using AI to help communities worldwide deal with climate change and its dangers. We've launched this feature in countries hit hard by wildfires in recent summers, based on how well our model works in each place. As we keep improving our models, we hope to bring this to more countries and keep sharing vital info when people need it most.
*Wildfire tracking is already available in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
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Comments (28)
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![ThomasMiller]()
ThomasMiller
August 9, 2025 at 9:00:59 AM EDT
Les cartes des incendies couvrent maintenant plus de régions, c'est impressionnant ! Mais franchement, ça fait peur de voir autant de feux en Europe et en Afrique. Est-ce que la tech peut vraiment aider à gérer ça ou c'est juste pour faire joli ? 😕
0
![JonathanLewis]()
JonathanLewis
August 8, 2025 at 1:00:59 AM EDT
Wildfires are getting wilder every year! 😓 This map expansion is cool, but it’s scary how fast these fires spread across Europe and Africa. Hope the tech helps firefighters save more land!
0
![KeithSmith]()
KeithSmith
August 2, 2025 at 11:07:14 AM EDT
Wildfire maps expanding to new regions is super cool! It's wild how tech can track blazes in places like Greece and Cyprus now. Hope it helps firefighters save more lives! 🔥
0
![JustinJackson]()
JustinJackson
April 25, 2025 at 5:43:41 AM EDT
Os novos mapas de incêndios florestais são um salva-vidas para rastrear incêndios na Europa e na África! São detalhados e atualizados frequentemente, o que é ótimo. Mas a interface poderia ser mais amigável ao usuário. Ainda assim, é essencial para quem está preocupado com incêndios florestais nessas regiões. 🔥🌍
0
![WillieJackson]()
WillieJackson
April 19, 2025 at 3:22:35 AM EDT
¡Los nuevos mapas de incendios forestales son un salvavidas para seguir los incendios en Europa y África! Son detallados y se actualizan con frecuencia, lo cual es genial. Pero la interfaz podría ser más amigable para el usuario. Aún así, es imprescindible para cualquiera preocupado por los incendios forestales en estas regiones. 🔥🌍
0
![RogerJackson]()
RogerJackson
April 15, 2025 at 6:00:03 PM EDT
유럽과 아프리카의 산불 추적에 Wildfire Maps가 정말 유용해요. 새로운 지역이 추가된 건 좋은데, 인터페이스가 좀 더 사용자 친화적이면 좋겠어요. 그래도 산불에 신경 쓰는 사람에겐 필수 앱이에요! 🔥
0
In July, wildfires raged across the Greek islands of Kos, Chios, and Crete, keeping firefighters busy through the night. Meanwhile, in Spain's Extremadura region, authorities mobilized 60 personnel to tackle one of the 18 forest fires threatening the area. Over in Cyprus, a wildfire in the Paphos region was sparked by light refracted through broken glass. Reports suggest that fire-prone areas in Europe have doubled over the past 50 years.
Thanks to AI, we can now track wildfire boundaries in detail on Search and Maps, and send location-based push notifications. This summer, we're rolling out this tool to 15 more countries in Europe and Africa:
- Andorra
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- France
- Greece
- Italy
- Kenya
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Türkiye
We're making this info available through alerts and features that help folks stay safe near wildfires.
Accurate and Reliable Tracking
Google's AI-powered wildfire tracking model uses a bunch of data sources, including different satellite imagery sets. We check our model against our own fire scar model—shapes we figure out after a fire's been put out—based on past wildfire data. Other AI models help confirm if there's really a fire, which all together gives us more accurate wildfire boundaries than just using satellite images.
Accessible and Useful Information When People Need It
As we rolled out this new feature this summer, we mapped over 40 wildfires in southern Europe, including fires in Spain, Greece, and Cyprus last month, and others from Portugal to Kenya.
Our wildfire boundary tracking is designed to be helpful for both locals and tourists who might not speak the local language. Notifications are tailored based on user settings and preferred languages, so travelers can get timely, local wildfire updates in their own language during peak tourist season.
We also overlay this info on Google Maps driving directions, so travelers can see if there are wildfires near their planned route.
*Wildfire tracking is already available in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
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NotebookLM from Google is introducing an innovative Video Overviews feature that harnesses AI technology to automatically generate narrated slideshow presentations. Currently rolling out with English support, Google has confirmed plans to expand lang
Google's AI Now Handles Phone Calls for You
Google has expanded its AI calling feature to all US users through Search, enabling customers to inquire about pricing and availability with local businesses without phone conversations. Initially tested in January, this capability currently supports
"Dot AI Companion App Announces Closure, Discontinues Personalized Service"
Dot, an AI companion application designed to function as a personal friend and confidant, will cease operations, according to a Friday announcement from its developers. New Computer, the startup behind Dot, stated on its website that the service will
August 9, 2025 at 9:00:59 AM EDT
Les cartes des incendies couvrent maintenant plus de régions, c'est impressionnant ! Mais franchement, ça fait peur de voir autant de feux en Europe et en Afrique. Est-ce que la tech peut vraiment aider à gérer ça ou c'est juste pour faire joli ? 😕
0
August 8, 2025 at 1:00:59 AM EDT
Wildfires are getting wilder every year! 😓 This map expansion is cool, but it’s scary how fast these fires spread across Europe and Africa. Hope the tech helps firefighters save more land!
0
August 2, 2025 at 11:07:14 AM EDT
Wildfire maps expanding to new regions is super cool! It's wild how tech can track blazes in places like Greece and Cyprus now. Hope it helps firefighters save more lives! 🔥
0
April 25, 2025 at 5:43:41 AM EDT
Os novos mapas de incêndios florestais são um salva-vidas para rastrear incêndios na Europa e na África! São detalhados e atualizados frequentemente, o que é ótimo. Mas a interface poderia ser mais amigável ao usuário. Ainda assim, é essencial para quem está preocupado com incêndios florestais nessas regiões. 🔥🌍
0
April 19, 2025 at 3:22:35 AM EDT
¡Los nuevos mapas de incendios forestales son un salvavidas para seguir los incendios en Europa y África! Son detallados y se actualizan con frecuencia, lo cual es genial. Pero la interfaz podría ser más amigable para el usuario. Aún así, es imprescindible para cualquiera preocupado por los incendios forestales en estas regiones. 🔥🌍
0
April 15, 2025 at 6:00:03 PM EDT
유럽과 아프리카의 산불 추적에 Wildfire Maps가 정말 유용해요. 새로운 지역이 추가된 건 좋은데, 인터페이스가 좀 더 사용자 친화적이면 좋겠어요. 그래도 산불에 신경 쓰는 사람에겐 필수 앱이에요! 🔥
0
