Press Release: Kainuu Hosts Groundbreaking Trial to Test AI-Enabled Forest Fire Response Tools

20 May 2025

From 20 to 23 May 2025, the Kainuu Wellbeing Services County (KAHY) will host the first Finnish trial of the TEMA project, a European Union-funded initiative aimed at transforming how authorities manage natural disasters using cutting-edge technology. The pilot trial will take place in Vuokatti, with technical demonstrations based on historical wildfire data from Kuhmo and the 2021 Kalajoki fire.

The exercise, held at Break Sokos Hotel Vuokatti, will simulate a large-scale forest fire scenario using real data, combining live operator testing with AI-powered mapping, prediction, and decision-support technologies developed under the TEMA project (“Trusted Extremely Precise Mapping and Prediction for Emergency Management”).

Real Data, Real Stakes

While Finland has historically seen few large wildfires, the region’s exposure is increasing due to climate change. The trial aims to test how advanced digital tools can improve disaster preparedness, decision-making, and coordination among emergency services.

Using real historical datasets, including drone footage, satellite imagery, and prescribed burn data, the trial will evaluate:

Enhanced situational awareness and data integration tools,
Fire spread simulation and prediction software,
Communication interfaces between field units and command centers,
Training and usability for emergency personnel.

Participants include staff from the Kainuu Rescue Department, Finnish emergency service educators and European technical experts from the TEMA consortium.

What is TEMA?

TEMA (Trusted Extremely Precise Mapping and Prediction for Emergency Management) is a €11.3 million Horizon Europe research project running from December 2022 to November 2026. Coordinated by a consortium of 19 partners from 8 countries, TEMA integrates advanced AI, satellite data, real-time visualization, and decision-support tools to help first responders better manage natural disasters such as floods and wildfires.

The platform’s key features include:

Real-time semantic 3D mapping and forecasting,
Scalable cloud-based analytics (NDM-Analytics-as-a-Service),
Integration of drones, satellite feeds, and field reports,
Interactive augmented reality for emergency scenario planning.

The Kainuu trial is first of four pilot exercises across Europe taking place within 2025, following similar trials in Italy Germany, and Greece.

Strengthening Finnish and EU Resilience

The KAHY trial serves multiple goals:

Identify procedural gaps in current forest fire management,
Train local staff on new technologies,
Evaluate the performance of TEMA tools in a realistic setting,
Share lessons learned with policymakers, researchers, and other EU stakeholders.

The trial is organized with support from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) and TEMA technical partners. It will include a hands-on training programme, live simulation, and a structured evaluation involving observers, surveys, and debrief sessions.

Media Access and Engagement

For more information, please contact:
Aikaterini Beli – Communication Manager, TEMA project
Email: aikaterini.beli@lisboncouncil.net

To learn more about the TEMA project, visit: https://tema-project.eu/