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Colorado has millions of acres of forests and numerous wildfires each year. Fifteen of Colorado’s top 20 largest wildfires have happened since 2012. The top three largest burned well over 500,000 acres combined: Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire, and the Pine Gulch Fire.
Conditions on the ground and in the air — because wind patterns matter for wildfires — make it likely there will be more damaging wildfires in the Centennial State.
There are a number of activities that can be undertaken to try to prevent and mitigate wildfires, including early detection.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate answered some questions about using sensors to prevent Colorado wildfires. The second question was answered by Debra Deininger, Chief Revenue Officer at N5 Sensors, Inc.
What do the sensors detect, and how do they transmit data that can be used to prevent wildfires?
S&T began its efforts at developing wildfire sensors in 2019 in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and private sector partner N5 Sensors Inc., S&T led the development of Alpha and Beta sensors that are currently being tested and used to help prevent wildfires across the U.S. and Canada.
The goal is for the sensors to help emergency response agencies respond at warp speed to an early detection of a fire. The hope is for the sensors to alert authorities to the first molecules or signatures of a fire so they can respond and extinguish the flames before a fire has a chance to grow and spread.
The newer Beta sensors operate 24/7 in daylight and nighttime conditions where optics are often limited, and can “sniff” fires, particulates and gases, which are signs of fire ignition. The wildfire sensor acts like a sensitive nose for gases and tiny solid particles in the air, taking measurement data and sending it to the cloud every 10 seconds.
A robust artificial intelligence (AI) enabled cloud-based system analyzes the data and compares it to the established baseline. After the analysis is complete, the sensor transmits data wirelessly through cellular networks (or via radio if in a very remote location) to a central monitoring system that notifies the end user via test or email. A web-based dashboard is also available to view and monitor the sensors.
The addition of rapid alerts, warnings, and notifications could prove the difference between a localized fire response and a large-scale tragedy. The sensors have been able to detect wildfire ignitions and have provided early notification to authorities prior to 911 calls, giving the responders a time advantage to respond to the emerging threat.
How much do they cost, and how long do they last?
Costs depend on size of area to be protected and deployment design, but usually works out to about $10 per acre.
We are targeting a 10-year lifetime with 5-year maintenance. To the customer, maintenance is a simple field sensor swap.
How do you determine where to place them?
S&T, USFA, and N5 Sensors analyzed areas across the US and Canada that are prone to high wildfire risk based on environmental and geographic factors. We work with local fire departments to help establish deployment locations for the sensors.
There are currently 85 Alpha sensors installed in areas of Northern and Southern California, along with select areas of Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Canada. There are currently 215 Beta sensors across the Hawaiian Islands, areas of northern and southern California and Colorado.
In September 2024, S&T delivered 20 sensors and 4 wind sensors to Jefferson County, Colorado. The Sheriff’s office plans to install them this winter. Gilpin County, Colorado will also receive 100 sensors soon, via a grant.
Further east, 25 sensors and 5 wind sensors are also planned for future installation in Tennessee.
Strategically placing sensors in these high-risk areas across the US can help provide real-time data on fire-prone conditions to enhance early detection and prevention efforts.
Why do you use wind sensors too?
Wind plays a critical role in the spread and intensity of wildfires. Wind can rapidly carry flames across large areas and influence the direction and speed of a fire’s movement. By monitoring wind conditions in real-time, these sensors provide valuable information that helps improve the accuracy of alerts and firefighting strategies, ultimately enhancing fire prevention and response efforts.
Are wildfires increasing in frequency and/or severity? If they are, is the increase related to climate change?
From S&T’s perspective, wildfires are indeed increasing in both frequency and severity. This rise is largely attributed to climate change, which is causing hotter, drier conditions and more extreme weather patterns. Prolonged droughts, higher temperatures and wind patterns have made environments more prone to ignition and rapid fire spread. These changing conditions are creating longer and more intense fire seasons, posing greater challenges for firefighting efforts and increasing the need for advanced detection and prevention technologies like these sensors.
What are the early stages of a wildfire?
The early stages of a wildfire begin with an ignition source, such as a lightning strike, human activity or spontaneous combustion with dry vegetation. The spark ignites surrounding flammable material like grass, leaves or branches, creating a small fire. In these initial stages, the fire is often localized and then grows, depending on factors like wind, temperature and fuel availability. If not quickly contained, the fire can grow in intensity and size, spreading rapidly across large areas into more advanced wildfire stages. This is why the sensors are vital in the early stages of a wildfire because they detect fire-prone conditions and early.
How does early detection prevent wildfire expansion?
[Pulled the response to this question from some of the answers from above questions since they’re relevant here.]
These sensors provide valuable information that helps improves the accuracy of alerts and firefighting strategies, ultimately enhancing fire prevention and response efforts.
The addition of rapid, alerts, warnings, and notifications could prove the difference between a localized fire response and a large-scale tragedy. The sensors have been able to detect wildfire ignitions and have provided early notification to authorities prior to 911 calls, giving the responders a time advantage to respond to the emerging threat.
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