The fires that swept across the Urals, including the Sverdlovsk region, are visible from space and underscore the scale of the emergency. A satellite image captured by the Kanopus-V Earth remote sensing system highlights the spread of the blaze and serves as a real time alert for ground response teams [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].
Roskosmos shared the image via its Telegram channel, showcasing how space assets contribute to disaster monitoring. The post emphasizes that the Canopus-V satellite functions as a space-based helper, providing timely notifications to local authorities when natural disasters loom or intensify, enabling quicker mobilization of resources [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].
The image reflects the situation as it stood on the morning of May 8, with officials reporting that the fire had spread across more than 54,100 hectares of forested terrain. This visualization helps emergency managers assess the footprint, prioritize containment zones, and coordinate aerial and ground operations. The update underscores the role of satellite data in tracking evolving fire fronts and updating response plans in near real time [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].
More than 4,800 specialists and roughly 6,000 volunteers were engaged in firefighting efforts, supported by multiple aviation platforms and ground crews. The combination of expert personnel and community involvement illustrates a broad, coordinated approach to suppressing large-scale forest fires in challenging terrain. Satellite-derived maps, weather data, and on-the-ground reports are integrated to optimize resource deployment and safety measures [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].
The fires that began in the central Urals on May 9 were targeted for extinguishment over an area of at least 2,000 hectares with localization efforts aimed at 19,000 hectares. Authorities outlined strategic objectives to steadily reduce the blaze’s footprint while strengthening perimeter control and accessibility for firefighting teams. This plan reflects a disciplined, data-driven approach to containment and recovery, leveraging both satellite surveillance and field operations [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].
Earlier, the E1 portal released a video compilation depicting active, strong forest fires across the Urals, highlighting the breadth of the incident and the ongoing public interest in the event. The compilation helps convey the scale and urgency to audiences while authorities continue to issue guidance on safety, evacuation if necessary, and reporting of new hotspots to ensure rapid response [Roscosmos press service, May 2025].