OroraTech’s Global Wildfire Conference in Athens Calls for Urgent Action on Fire Resilience and Technology
ATHENS, Greece – October 9th, 2025 – OroraTech, the global leader in space-based wildfire intelligence, hosted its 3rd International Wildfire Conference (IWC) 2025 this time in Athens, gathering more than 90 leading wildfire experts, emergency responders, scientists, and policymakers from around 6 continents to share their strategies and technologies for managing a rapidly intensifying wildfire threat.
Greece is among the most wildfire-prone countries in Europe. In 2025 alone, between January and August, more than 47,393 hectares have burned, placing this year as the fifth most destructive fire season in the past two decades for the country. In this context, Athens provides a deeply relevant setting for the International Wildfire Conference.
Professor Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General for Telecommunications and Post at the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, opened the event with remarks that underscored Greece’s investment in next-generation wildfire resilience through space-based innovation.
“OroraTech brings to Greece not only its dedication and expertise, but also a profound commitment to using innovation for the common good. In just one year, their Greek team has built a hub of space technology and wildfire intelligence that reflects the very best of our growing ecosystem,” said Secretary Prof. Karantzalos.
“This collaboration is exactly what we need to meet the challenges of climate change: cutting-edge tools, brilliant minds, and a shared mission to protect our people and our planet,” comments Dimitris Bliziotis, Earth Observation Officer at Hellenic Space Center.
The country’s pioneering efforts include the development of four thermal satellites by the Ministry of Digital Governance with OroraTech as part of the Hellenic Fire System, with data actively shared with the Hellenic Fire Service and supported by the Hellenic Space Center. The project is being carried out under an ESA Contract in the frame of the Greek National Satellite Space Project implemented by the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance with the European Space Agency’s assistance in management and implementation. It forms part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the core programme of the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Speakers from across the globe shared the insights on the evolving role of technology for wildfire management. convened to give presentations on a number of topics. Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, the former U.S. Fire Administrator emphasized how wildfire risk is being driven by climate change, and how our resilience preparation is no longer optional - we must do it now. Mathiue Payette, Director of Aviation Services for SOPFEU in Canada, and Dimitris Bliziotis, the Scientific Officer for Earth Observation at the Hellenic Space Center, both championed satellite intelligence, highlighting their capability to detect and visualize wildfire emergencies in real time. Fire Chief Eugene Wells (Global Fire Rescue) and Fire Colonel Zisoula Ntasiou (Hellenic Fire Corps) demonstrated how operationalizing technology for firefighters on the ground is enhancing their efforts, protecting communities not just in Canada and Greece, but across the world.
"Wildfire resilience cannot be solved in isolation. It requires a joint effort from many players in coordination, from prevention to better simulation and real-time insights. It is critical that we work as a community to bring these aspects together. Our conference is an inspiring forum of customers and friends to share the best ideas, vision,” said Axel Roenneke, Chief Commercial Officer at OroraTech. “We now protect over 470 million hectares worldwide - that's larger than the European Union. By monitoring their land, our customers have saved millions in mitigation costs, and more than 50 million tons of CO2 that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere by wildfires.”
For more information on OroraTech’s Wildfire Solution and more, visit ororatech.com.
To see the press kit, click here.
About OroraTech
OroraTech is a global intelligence-as-a-service company leveraging thermal data for a sustainable Earth. Its Wildfire Solution platform is powered by high-resolution thermal data from its proprietary and public satellite system, which delivers real-time situational awareness and prompts risk alerts to revolutionize wildfire intelligence worldwide. The cutting-edge system detects fires of any scale, day or night, ensuring timely action. Founded in 2018, OroraTech is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Greece. A dedicated team of more than 140 experts is committed to delivering innovative solutions for a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.ororatech.com.
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OroraTech
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