A startup called SenseNet has raised $14 million to spot wildfires with satellites and AI before they are visible. The amount may seem small, but this is just the latest company to enter the new frontier. Earlier this year, Muon Space and the Earth Fire Alliance launched FireSat , a global constellation of AI-enabled satellites designed to detect and track wildfires in real-time. And OroraTech followed shortly after with the launch of their satellite constellation capable of detecting fires as small as 12 feet by 12 feet.

Think of the technology as smoke detectors in orbit: infrared eyes that can spot a blaze before the first 911 call. The systems’ alerts flow straight to insurers, utilities, and fire crews, giving them a head start in stopping megafires early.

The stakes are massive. California’s 2024 fire season burned more than 1 million acres and will cost over $250 billion in damages and economic losses. And total damages for just the first half of 2025 are estimated at over $100 billion. Globally, wildfires cost more than hurricanes and earthquakes.

If SenseNet, FireSat, and other similar companies prevent just 10% of fire destruction, it would shift billions from an unpredictable expense to a stable infrastructure budget. For investors, it’s a new climate tech market category.

Wildfires Open Up New Opportunities

The ripple effects of wildfires stretch far beyond the flames. We have all seen homes destroyed, farmers lose their crops, timber prices skyrocket, and ash can render drinking water unsafe. On top of that, a single season’s blaze can pump out more carbon than some countries do in a year.

Satellite monitoring introduces the possibility of treating prevention as infrastructure rather than charity: steady budgets, recurring contracts, and predictable revenue, rather than last-minute relief checks.

The Satellites Themselves Are Only Half the Story

The real power lies in the intelligence they generate. Turning images into fire maps, risk scores, and early warnings creates a solid demand for data analytics firms. Insurers, utilities, and governments don’t want raw pixels; they want actionable guidance, and the companies that provide it stand to become indispensable.

Insurance is one of the clearest beneficiaries. When early fire detection reduces catastrophic claims, insurance companies will have more stable earnings. That means stronger margins for names like Allstate and Munich Re and potentially more stable premiums in fire-prone states like California and Colorado. In a market where insurers have been retreating from wildfire coverage, this could be the difference between affordable policies and none at all.

The commodity and carbon implications are just as striking. Timber prices soar when millions of acres of commercial forest are lost. As power grids fail due to melted transmission lines, municipal credit markets stumble and property-tax bases evaporate. Preventing even a fraction of wildfire damage could steady multiple supply chains at once while strengthening carbon-credit markets that reward the avoided carbon emissions.

SenseNet and FireSat are examples of economic defense tools for rural America. They help preserve local budgets, protect farmland, and stabilize community banks that often get wiped out when fires rage through small towns. That blend of prevention, protection, and predictability is why these companies matter not only for climate resilience but also for capital allocation.

Play the Hottest Sectors in Wildfire Prevention

AI-powered satellites like SenseNet are redefining disaster prevention. By detecting wildfires before they spread, SenseNet turns prevention into infrastructure, creating a new, investable frontier across aerospace, analytics, and insurance stability. Click below to see the winners in this category.

Procure Space ETF (UFO)

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN)

Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ)

Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF (ILS)

Bottom Line

SenseNet, FireSat, and OroraTech turn wildfire prevention into a profit-driven defense play. If investors seek to benefit from this, they should focus on the ecosystem, such as satellite operators, AI analytics, and insurers, which are best positioned to benefit from risk stabilization.

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November 28, 2025