Wildfire information in the backcountry
BoltWX's wildfire feature provides on-demand information about wildfires with the details that backcountry users need to make good decisions.
Wildfire Awareness
BoltWX uses data from state/provincial and federal agencies to provide information on wildfires near your location, telling you the distance and direction to major fires.
(Available in USA and Canada)
Evacuation Orders & Alerts
Wildfire messages include information about nearby wildfire evacuation orders and alerts.
(Currently available in BC and Alberta, Canada)
Easy to use
Your satellite device does all the work. Simply message the BoltWX service and receive wildfire information for your location in moments.
Accessing wildfire information with BoltWX
Wildfire information is currently available for active wildfires in the USA and Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, Canada, using data from the US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFS), BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), Alberta Wildfire, the Alberta Emergency Alert system, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). BoltWX is not endorsed by any of these agencies or services.
BoltWX provides access to information about active wildfires near your GPS location for when access through official channels is unavailable. You should always check the official wildfire warning website for your area before you enter the backcountry. Wildfires move quickly and data may not represent the current situation on the ground. You agree to use the information about wildfires provided by BoltWX at your own risk. See the BoltWX terms and conditions for our disclaimer about wildfire information, which you agree to as a condition of using the service.
To receive information about nearby fires, include the phrase “FIRE” in your message. For example, your message should read: FIRE #ACCESSCODE# (50.12135, -111.12345)
Wildfire messages return information for wildfires within 30km of your GPS location. Note that wildfire messages are not constrained to a single SMS message and will list all fires found in the vicinity. Message structure varies slightly to accomomodate data available for each region.
Below are examples of BoltWX wildfire messages with their translations. Canadian messages use fire terminology defined by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre glossary here (PDF file).
Evacuation alerts and orders are included where possible (currently covering Alberta and British Columbia, Canada). Alert terminology varies significantly by state or province. BoltWX uses the local state- or provincial-level terminology to indicate urgency of alert. You can find information about alert terminology for Alberta here and British Columbia here.
| Keyword | Description | Sample Request |
|---|---|---|
FIRE |
Use the keyword 'FIRE', followed by your access code and GPS coordinates to request a wildfire message. | FIRE #ACCESSCODE# (50.12135, -111.12345) |
Sample Wildfire Messages
Below are examples of BoltWX wildfire messages with their translations and breakdowns:
Alberta
| Sample SMS Response | Detailed Line-by-Line Breakdown |
|---|---|
|
Wildfires 30km radius Critical Evacuation Wildfire Alert Updated 13 Jun 10:08PM Fire N1234: Out of Control, 8.1km W, 1037ha Fire N2345: Being Held, 10.3km S, 487ha Fire N3456: Being Held, 12.2km E, 234ha |
Search Radius & Evacuation Alerts:
Search Radius: Searches for all active wildfires within 30km of your GPS location
Evacuation Alert: Critical emergency alert issued by Alberta Emergency Alert (updated June 13 at 10:08 PM)
Active Wildfires:
Fire N1234: Out of Control • 8.1 km West • 1,037 hectares
Fire N2345: Being Held • 10.3 km South • 487 hectares
Fire N3456: Being Held • 12.2 km East • 234 hectares
|
British Columbia
| Sample SMS Response | Detailed Line-by-Line Breakdown |
|---|---|
|
Wildfires 30km radius Fire N1234 (EVACUATION ORDER): Out Control, 8.1km W, 1037ha Fire N2345 (EVACUATION ALERT): Being Held, 10.3km S, 487ha Fire N3456: Being Held, 12.2km E, 234ha |
Search Radius:
Search Radius: Searches for all active wildfires within 30km of your GPS location
Active Wildfires & Evacuation Status:
Fire N1234: Evacuation Order Active • Out of Control • 8.1 km West • 1,037 hectares
Fire N2345: Evacuation Alert Active • Being Held • 10.3 km South • 487 hectares
Fire N3456: Being Held • 12.2 km East • 234 hectares (no evacuation notice)
|
Ontario
| Sample SMS Response | Detailed Line-by-Line Breakdown |
|---|---|
|
Wildfires 30km radius Fire N1234: Out of Control, 8.1km W, 1037ha Fire N2345: Being Held, 10.3km S, 487ha |
Search Radius:
Search Radius: Searches for all active wildfires within 30km of your GPS location
Active Wildfires:
Fire N1234: Out of Control • 8.1 km West • 1,037 hectares
Fire N2345: Being Held • 10.3 km South • 487 hectares
Note: Evacuation alerts and orders are not currently available in Ontario.
|
USA (All States)
| Sample SMS Response | Detailed Line-by-Line Breakdown |
|---|---|
|
Wildfires 30km radius Fire N1234: Active, 8.1km W, 1037ha |
Search Radius:
Search Radius: Searches for all active wildfires within 30km of your GPS location
Active Wildfires:
Fire N1234: Active status • 8.1 km West • 1,037 hectares
Note: Evacuation alerts and orders are not currently available in the USA.
|
For information on other aspects of BoltWX, visit the FAQ here.
Official Wildfire Data Sources
BoltWX retrieves data directly from official federal and provincial/state agencies.
USA (All States)
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFS):
Active wildfire tracking and fire perimeters across all US states and territories.
British Columbia
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS):
Official perimeter tracking, fire status classifications, and integrated provincial evacuation alerts and orders.
Alberta
Alberta Wildfire & Alberta Emergency Alert:
Provincial active wildfire incident data combined with real-time critical evacuation alert updates.
Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF):
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) active wildfire perimeter and incident tracking across Ontario.