Latest Innovations in Fire Detection Technology

Two NASA-developed technologies are key components of a new high-resolution sensor for observing wildfires: High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector (HOT-BIRD), developed with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), and a cutting-edge Digital Readout Integrated Circuit (DROIC), developed with funding from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Developed with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), the “Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker” (c-FIRST) is a small, mid-wave infrared sensor that collects thermal radiation data across five spectral bands. Most traditional space-based sensors dedicated to observing fires have long revisit times, observing a scene just once over days or even weeks. The compact c-FIRST sensor could be employed in a SmallSat constellation that could observe a scene multiple times a day, providing first responders data with high spatial resolution in under an hour. In addition, c-FIRST’s dynamic spectral range covers the entire temperature profile of terrestrial wild fires, making it easier for first-responders to detect everything from smoldering, low-intensity fires to flaming, high intensity fires. The need for space-based assets dedicated to wildfire management is severe. During the Palisade and Eaton Fires earlier this year, strong winds kept critical observation aircraft from taking to the skies, making it difficult for firefighters to monitor and track massive burns. Space-based sensors with high revisit rates and high spatial resolution would give firefighters and first responders a constant source of eye-in-the-sky data. c-FIRST leverages decades of sensor development at JPL to achieve its compact size and high performance. In particular, the quarter-sized High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector (HOT-BIRD), a compact infrared detector also developed at JPL with ESTO support, keeps c-FIRST small, eliminating the need for bulky cryocooler subsystems that add mass to traditional infrared sensors. With HOT-BIRD alone, c-FIRST could gather high-resolution images and quantitative retrievals of targets between 300°K (about 80°F) to 1000°K (about 1300°F). But when paired with a state-of-the-art Digital Readout Integrated Circuit (DROIC), c-FIRST can observe targets greater than 1600°K (about 2400°F). Developed by Copious Imaging LLC. and JPL with funding from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, this DROIC features an in-pixel digital counter to reduce saturation, allowing c-FIRST to capture reliable infrared data across a broader spectral range. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gJ2MjPW2 #JPL #NASA #cFIRST NASA’s c-FIRST instrument could provide high resolution data from a compact space-based platform in under an hour. (NASA/JPL)

🔥🛰️ Wildfires are getting worse—can space technology help? That’s where Earth Fire Alliance comes in - the nonprofit is launching FireSat: a constellation of over 50 satellites designed to detect fires in real-time. Unlike traditional systems that spot fires only when they have already grown to a large size, FireSat aims to catch small fires (as little as 5 square meters) within 20 minute scan intervals. Cutting response times by just 15 minutes could save $8.2 billion in economic losses and countless lives according to an article in Quartz. The first satellite launches in March with the full system expected by 2029. 💡 The bigger picture: This is a geospatial problem at scale. Faster detection means better resource allocation, improved evacuation plans, and, ultimately, a data-driven approach to disaster response. Thanks to Juliet Rothenberg for sharing and check out some of the amazing things she is sharing!

This pinecone-shaped device melts to detect wildfires🌲 (And just won the UK James Dyson Award)  Founders of UK-based Pyri have taken inspiration from plants that release seeds in high heat… …to develop an innovation tackling one of our most pressing climate challenges. 🔥 The Challenge: ↳ Wildfire size & intensity increasing, burning larger areas of land each year ↳ Emissions from forest fires increased 60% globally from 2001 to 2023 ↳ Remote communities often lack resources & technology needed for early detection 🍍 The Innovation: ↳ A biodegradable wildfire detector made from wax and charcoal (no rare metals) ↳ Can be deployed by helicopter to cover vast areas quickly 🎯 How It Works: 1) Pyri's wax shell melts when exposed to fire 2) Releases a saltwater solution to activate internal organic electronics 3) Sends radio frequency signal detectable up to tens of kilometers away 4) Alert is triangulated to pinpoint fire location 5) Local communities and authorities are notified of danger 🧯 The Impact: ↳ Low-cost, easy to install, and zero maintenance - perfect for remote areas ↳ Non-toxic materials pose minimal environmental risk From pinecones dropping seeds… ...to revolutionary wildfire detection. 📥 Like this post? Follow me for more insights on NatureTech and Nature Finance

In many parts of the world, summer has become synonymous with wildfire season and we are seeing it start earlier than ever due to ongoing drought and climate change. In fact, Alberta’s #wildfire season started a week earlier this year and is expected to run later. There are wildfires burning in Washington state right now, and California has burned 1,500% more acres by this time than last year. As the world grapples with the urgent threat of climate change, scientists and policymakers are turning to #AI to help. From predicting extreme #weather events to optimizing #energy use, AI is emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Take the company MyRadar for example. They are a small weather forecasting company that is working to combine tiny satellites with AI to detect fires long before they race out of control. They are using AI to do something that humans cannot, which is to monitor the planet 24/7 to find disasters in the making. They start by training the model with existing data of what a wildfire or smoky environment might look like. Then they use a simple numerical model that says this looks like a wildfire. They can then alert someone on the ground to prevent it from spreading further. I was super impressed when I saw these satellites in action on this PBS special <https://lnkd.in/gfAQjCxE>, which is worth a watch. This is just one of many examples of technology assisting us in taking climate action. We recently featured the Alberta Wildfire management agency on the #Pivotal Podcast <https://lnkd.in/gqmRC4bb>, discussing their work with AltaML on an AI tool that helps them decide where to direct their finite firefighting resources more effectively. The duty officers look at the predictive tool each day for their region, and decide where they will send their helicopters, bulldozers and crews based on the chance of a fire starting in that area. The model can accurately predict the likelihood of a new fire 80% of the time. Wildfires are just one example of the impacts of climate change. We need to use every tool at our disposal to face this crisis, including AI. How are you seeing technology and AI assist? Please share in the comments. 

🔥The Wildfire Detection Tech That Sees Heat Before Smoke What if wildfires could be stopped before anyone sees flames? In this episode of All Things Wildfire, we dive into Firebird—a thermal-based detection system from Lindsey FireSense that’s spotting threats in real time, long before traditional methods kick in. No smoke? No problem. Firebird reads heat anomalies as they happen, giving fire agencies, insurers, and property owners a critical window to act. The result? Faster response, lower losses, and a massive leap forward in wildfire defense. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why Firebird’s thermal tech outpaces cameras and satellites - How insurers are using early detection to reduce claims - Why perimeter protection is the new frontline in wildfire resilience If you work in insurance, emergency response, or wildfire mitigation, this tech isn’t optional—it’s the future. 🎧 Listen here: The full episode link is in the comments below. #wildfiretech #earlydetection #wildfireresilience #firemitigation #AllThingsWildfire Daniel Berlant Amy Bach J. Lopez Seth Schalet Justice Jones James Milek Heather Posner, CPRIA Michael Thayer, CWMS Jeff Huebner Deserie Thigpen Mia Iverson Lauraleigh Weaver Steven Hawks Yadira Anzueto, CIC, CAPI Susie Hanasab David, CAPI, CCIC Vincent Lu Frank Frievalt California Fire Safe Council