Vancouver-based Skyward Wildfire is pursuing an ambitious goal: preventing wildfires before they start by stopping lightning. The company, founded on the premise that lightning is a primary driver of wildfires—responsible for over 50% of burned areas and emissions in North America—has developed a technology it says can neutralize the electrical potential in clouds, preventing cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. This emerging field of weather modification aims to address the escalating threat of wildfires, which cost the U.S. Economy an estimated $893 billion annually and resulted in the loss of 5% of Canada’s forests in 2023 alone.
The idea isn’t science fiction. Skyward Wildfire claims to have demonstrated its technology in partnership with government wildfire services, achieving what it describes as a significant reduction in lightning strikes within targeted storm cells. While the company initially stated it could prevent “up to 100%” of lightning strikes, a claim that drew scrutiny, it has since revised its language to state it can prevent “the majority” of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. This adjustment came after inquiries from MIT Technology Review, which pointed out the challenges of achieving consistent 100% outcomes in complex atmospheric systems.
The core of Skyward’s approach involves using artificial intelligence to predict high-risk storms and then deploying aircraft to release particles into clouds. These particles, the exact composition of which has not been publicly disclosed, are intended to neutralize the electrical charge within the cloud, preventing the formation of lightning. According to the company, this technology is deployed judiciously, targeting less than 0.1% of lightning activity in a given area—specifically, those storms posing the greatest wildfire risk.
Early Trials and Government Partnerships
Skyward Wildfire’s technology has undergone initial testing in collaboration with wildfire agencies in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. In August 2024, the company partnered with Alberta Wildfire to “prove suppression by plane and drone,” achieving a “60-100% reduction” in lightning strikes compared to control cells, according to a document posted by the World Bank. Further field trials are planned for the summer of 2025, aiming to develop “landscape level solutions” with more advanced aircraft, and sensors.
The British Columbia Wildfire Service confirmed its awareness of Skyward’s technology and acknowledged conducting preliminary trials in 2024 to assess its applicability within the province. “Should a project/technology like this move forward in B.C., we would engage with the project team in an effort to learn and ensure we’re using every tool available to us to respond to wildfire in B.C.,” the agency stated. However, both the British Columbia and Alberta Wildfire agencies have been reticent to share details about the materials used, testing locations, or public disclosures related to the trials.
How Lightning Ignites Wildfires
Understanding the science behind Skyward’s approach requires a grasp of how lightning forms. Clouds are composed of water in various states—vapor, droplets, and ice crystals. Within these clouds, collisions between snowflakes and graupel (tiny ice pellets) generate electrical charges. Updrafts separate these charges, creating an electrical field. When the difference in charge becomes significant enough, a lightning strike occurs—an electrostatic discharge that can ignite dry vegetation and spark a wildfire.
The link between lightning and wildfires is stark. In Canada, 93% of the area burned by wildfires in recent years has been attributed to lightning strikes. As global temperatures rise—with boreal forests warming at twice the global rate—the frequency of lightning strikes in northern forests is increasing, exacerbating the risk of out-of-control wildfires. The 2023 Canadian wildfire season, which saw nearly 7,000 fires scorch millions of acres and generate nearly 500 million tons of carbon emissions, underscored the devastating consequences of this trend.
The Role of AI and Targeted Intervention
Skyward Wildfire leverages artificial intelligence throughout its process. AI is used for forecasting lightning storms, prioritizing treatment areas, targeting specific storm cells, and optimizing flight paths for aircraft deploying the lightning-suppression technology. This targeted approach is crucial, according to Nicholas Harterre, who oversees government partnerships at Skyward. “Our objective is to reduce the probability of ignition on the limited number of extreme-risk days when fires threaten lives, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems, and when suppression costs and impacts can escalate rapidly,” he said.
The company’s diagrams illustrate planes dropping particles into clouds in “high risk areas.” While the specific materials used remain undisclosed, Skyward emphasizes that its methods and materials comply with all U.S. And Canadian federal requirements, and are developed by experts in AI, machine learning, data science, and wildfire management.
Looking Ahead
Skyward Wildfire’s technology represents a novel approach to wildfire prevention, but it’s still in its early stages. The company recently raised funding to accelerate product development and expand operations, and is continuing to work with government agencies to refine its methods and demonstrate their effectiveness. The upcoming field trials in British Columbia and Alberta will be critical in evaluating the scalability and long-term viability of this technology.
The success of Skyward Wildfire, or similar ventures, could represent a significant shift in wildfire management, moving from reactive suppression to proactive prevention. As climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense wildfires, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. The company plans to provide updates on its progress and findings throughout the 2025 field trial season.
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