DHS Wildland Fire Sensor Research advances

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announces the advancement of the Wildland Fire Sensor Research Program.

Authorities indicated that the selection of Hamburg, Germany-based Breeze Technologies UG and N5 Sensors, Inc. of Rockville, Md., represents advancement to the effort’s next test and evaluation phase.

“We are excited to move into the next phase of the Wildland Fire Sensor research,” Jeff Booth, director of S&T’s Sensors and Platforms Technology Center, said. “Both companies show great potential for operational deployment and dual-purpose wildfire detection and air quality monitoring capabilities.”

The agency field-tested the sensors in June during a Dye Creek Preserve prescribed burn in Red Bluff, California, in coordination with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and The Nature Conservancy.

“The next phase of the program will focus on hardening the sensors for longer-term field deployments,” Booth said. “These sensors will provide early alerting capabilities in high-risk areas where detection and alerting aren’t currently available.”

Planned enhancements include improving detection algorithms to leverage multiple sensors, detect multiple ignition points, decrease time to detection, and reduce false alert rates. Additional improvements include optimizing communications and backhaul; improving the user interface; and incorporating meteorological sensors and capacity for off-grid deployment with solar recharging.