Wildfires have long been one of Uttarakhand’s biggest environmental challenges, devastating forests, wildlife, and communities each year. But now, a groundbreaking mobile application—Forest Fire Uttarakhand—is changing the game. Developed under the leadership of IFS officer Vaibhav Singh, this app is being hailed as a model of smart governance and tech-driven conservation, drastically reducing fire response times and making firefighting more efficient than ever before.
From a Spark of an Idea in Canada to a Statewide Revolution
The seeds of this innovation were planted in 2017 when Singh, a 2015-batch IFS officer, was on a fellowship at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Working with global fire ecologists, he witnessed how technology could transform wildfire management.
“When I saw how other countries used real-time systems to manage forest fires, I knew we needed something similar back home,” recalls Singh.
Two years later, as DFO Rudraprayag, Singh launched a pilot app—Forest Fire Rudraprayag. Its success inspired a bigger vision: a full-scale platform for the entire state.
Official Launch: A Turning Point in Forest Management
On March 29, 2025, the Uttarakhand Forest Department launched the Forest Fire Uttarakhand app, along with an Integrated Command and Control Center. The app, available for Android users, now empowers not just forest staff but also citizens to detect, report, and monitor wildfire incidents in real time.
Earlier, wildfire alerts used to take 7–8 hours to reach field staff after satellite detection. Today, thanks to direct integration with the Forest Survey of India (FSI), alerts are relayed to over 5,000 forest officials and 2,000 volunteers instantly.
Smarter Firefighting: Features that Save Forests
The app is packed with cutting-edge features:
●GPS tracking of firefighting vehicles, ensuring better coordination.
●Pre-fire prediction alerts based on weather, vegetation, and topography.
●Public participation through geo-tagged photos and real-time fire reporting.
●Crew updates directly from the field, with photos and live status of firefighting operations.
“What makes our system unique is its interactivity,” Singh emphasizes. “It doesn’t just inform—it coordinates, mobilizes, and prevents.”
Already Showing Results
This year, Uttarakhand has recorded 15 forest fire incidents, placing it 15th nationally on FSI’s fire alert list. With the app in action, Singh and his team are confident that numbers will decline further as prevention and rapid response become the norm.
A Model for India’s Future
Experts believe this initiative could soon be replicated across fire-prone states in India, from Himachal to Madhya Pradesh. By merging technology, transparency, and community participation, the Forest Fire app sets a benchmark for disaster management in the era of climate change.
For Singh, the journey has come full circle:
“It’s a proud moment to see a pilot project we started in Rudraprayag now serve the entire state. I hope this becomes a benchmark for forest fire management across India.”
As Uttarakhand battles rising temperatures and climate-driven fire risks, this innovation offers more than a solution—it offers hope.