Breaking Barriers in Wildfire Science: WindTL and the Power of Ember Spread Prediction

Wildfires are one of the biggest challenges we face today. They’re becoming more intense, spreading faster, and costing more to manage every year. But what if we could predict their most dangerous behavior before it happens? That’s exactly what WindTL is designed to do.

This month, we had the opportunity to present WindTL at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) meeting. It was an incredible chance to share how our platform is redefining wildfire management, particularly in tackling a major issue: ember spread.

Why Focus on Ember Spread?

When wildfires happen, embers often travel miles beyond the main fire, igniting new fires and putting homes and communities at risk. In fact, embers cause up to 90% of structural losses during wildfires. Yet, predicting where these embers will land has been a challenge—until now.

WindTL is built to tackle this exact problem. By combining real-time weather data, terrain and fuel models, and cutting-edge AI, it predicts ember spread with precision. At AMS, we showed how WindTL integrates seamlessly with existing systems to give responders the insights they need to act quickly and protect what matters most.

The Technology Behind WindTL

What makes WindTL unique? A lot of it comes down to our Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN), which simulates 3D wind patterns to pinpoint where embers might land. Running on Google Cloud, WindTL processes data quickly and scales effortlessly, making it reliable in even the most complex wildfire scenarios.

At AMS, we demonstrated how WindTL worked during recent wildfires, showing how it analyzed real-time satellite data, weather conditions, and fire behavior to predict ember spread. This isn’t just about creating a fancy model—it’s about giving communities and first responders a tool they can trust when it counts.

Why This Matters Now

Wildfires are no longer a seasonal issue—they’re a year-round crisis. The wildland-urban interface, where homes meet wildlands, is growing, and so are the risks. WindTL helps shift the focus from reactive firefighting to proactive prevention. It’s not just about predicting fires; it’s about protecting lives, property, and the resources needed for recovery.

Let’s Collaborate

We’re committed to getting WindTL into the hands of firefighters, researchers, and policymakers who can use it to make a real difference. If you’re curious about how WindTL works or want to see it in action, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can redefine wildfire management and build safer, more resilient communities.

If you’re curious about how WindTL works or want to see it in action, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can redefine wildfire management and build safer, more resilient communities.