On March 29, the Uttarakhand Forest Department announced the launch of the ‘Forest Fire Uttarakhand’ mobile app, aimed at improving the control and management of forest fires across the state. During a press conference, Dr. Dhananjay Mohan, the Chief Forest Conservator (HoFF), shared that the state has also established the ‘Integrated Command and Control Center’ to enhance coordination and response. Notably, the app was initially developed in 2021 by IFS officer Vaibhav Singh and his team, and it was first implemented in Rudraprayag. After seeing positive results there, the Forest Department has now expanded the app’s use to cover the entire state. This innovative app is the first of its kind in India, marking a significant step forward in forest fire management.
This Android-based app provides near real-time information about forest fire locations, detected by satellite, to all relevant stakeholders. Thanks to the use of advanced technology, the app has significantly reduced the response time for fire detection and information dissemination by approximately six hours. The integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology has mapped more than 900 fire crew stations within the Forest Fire Uttarakhand mobile app and its dashboard system. Additionally, the app facilitates the real-time tracking of fire crew vehicles. Members of the public can also contribute by reporting new fires, submitting geo-tagged images to aid in the response effort.
Indian Masterminds spoke with IFS officer Vaibhav Singh, a 2015 batch officer currently serving as DFO Haridwar, to learn more about his initiative and how it works. He expressed his happiness, saying, “I’m very happy that the pilot project for Forest Fire Rudraprayag, which was started by my team, has now been adopted by the Uttarakhand Forest Department.”
THE IDEA
In 2017, Mr Vaibhav went to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, on a fellowship. During his three-month stint, he collaborated with fire ecologists, diving deep into the intricacies of forest fire management. It was here that he developed the idea of enhancing forest fire management through technology. Inspired by his experience, he sought ways to improve the efficiency of fire management systems.
When he became the DFO of Rudraprayag in 2019, Vaibhav put his ideas into action by launching a trial project – the Forest Fire Rudraprayag App. The app received an overwhelmingly positive response and played a significant role in preventing the spread of forest fires in the region. It served as a valuable pilot project, providing a case study for success. Seeing the app’s effectiveness, Vaibhav and his team presented it to the State Forest Department. Based on the results, it was decided last year to expand the app’s reach and implement it at the state level.
He said, “If you look globally, many countries have their own forest fire apps, but most of them are primarily informational in nature. In contrast, our app is far more advanced and interactive. What sets it apart is that it not only provides real-time information but also allows users to track ongoing incidents.”
HOW IT WORKS
Previously, when a forest fire occurred, the fire point would be detected by satellites using thermal cameras. This information would then be sent to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), where it would be processed using GIS layers to determine details like which division, range, or compartment the fire was in. FSI would then send this information via SMS, but the entire process, from detection to communication, would take 7 to 8 hours, even after the fire had been detected.
However, Vaibhav and his team revolutionized this process by developing the app and linking it directly to the FSI system. With this integration, the app instantly receives fire detection data and provides it in real-time. The app was then installed on the mobile phones of over 5,000 forest staff members, as well as 2,000 volunteers working alongside the forest department. This immediate access to critical information has significantly improved the speed and efficiency of fire response efforts.
Now, as soon as a fire notification reaches the FSI, the app instantly retrieves this data, eliminating the previous 7-hour delay. This significantly speeds up the process of responding to forest fires. But the app does more than just detection—it handles the entire management process. From dispatching staff to providing real-time updates, the app streamlines every aspect of fire management.
The state has established over 900 crew stations across Uttarakhand to combat forest fires, all of which are mapped in the department’s master control room. Once a fire is detected, the app identifies the nearest crew station to the fire location, ensuring that staff can be deployed immediately. Upon arrival at the site, the staff updates their status in the app, confirming that they have reached the location. “As the team works to control the fire, they continue to update the app with photos and status reports, and once the fire is under control, the incident is marked as closed in the system. This seamless flow of information ensures a swift and coordinated response to forest fires,” Mr Vaibhav added.
ADVANCE FEATURES
In addition to real-time fire detection and response, the app also features GPS tracking for firefighting vehicles. Currently, in the first phase, 21 fire-fighting vehicles are equipped with GPS trackers, and their locations are monitored through the app and the dashboard. This allows for precise tracking and ensures that the right resources are deployed quickly.
But that’s not all—the app comes with several other advanced features, including a pre-fire alert system. This feature helps predict where a fire might break out, giving forest officials a head start in preventing its spread. The pre-fire alerts are based on data integrated from the FSI, which includes temperature prediction models and forest data. The app analyzes this information to issue timely warnings, helping to mitigate the risk before a fire even starts. This proactive approach adds a crucial layer to fire management, making the app not only a tool for responding to fires but also for preventing them.
THE FIRE INCIDENTS
So far this fire season, Uttarakhand has experienced 15 forest fire incidents. At the same time, the state ranks 15th in the list of Near Real-Time Fire Alerts issued by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) for all the states in the country, covering the period from November 1, 2024, to March 26, 2025. Vaibhav believes that with the full implementation of this app, the state will be able to respond to and control these incidents more quickly, minimizing potential damage. Additionally, the app will play a key role in fire prevention, helping to reduce the likelihood of future outbreaks.
