New technologies are used across a variety of industries to boost effectiveness, reduce costs, and replace or supplement manual labor with automated systems and devices. The same benefits are available to forest and firefighting services as well as local authorities when it comes to wildfire prevention and monitoring. Automatic fire detection systems and smoke alarms can be used alongside traditional methods based on human observation to enable quicker identification and response to potential fire hazards.
Of course, there are many types of smoke detectors and fire alarm systems available on the market right now, including devices such as photoelectric detectors and heat alarms, but in the article below, we’ll mostly focus on the properties and functions of our own SmokeD wildfire detection system.
What Is an Automatic Fire Detection System?
Automatic fire detection systems are equipped with detectors and software that can detect, identify, and respond to fire threats without manual intervention. Once a fire alarm system detects a flame or smoke in the area, it sends out automatic alerts online or to mobile devices (depending on the type of system and settings).
Unlike indoor smoke detectors that respond to the presence of smoke in a room and heat alarms that react to significant changes in temperature, camera detectors with AI and machine learning algorithms work by analyzing images of their surroundings. This allows a single device to cover vast areas – for example, our detectors can detect fire and smoke even from as far as 10 miles away, though the exact range may vary depending on local topography and weather conditions. It’s also important to choose a suitable location for each fire and smoke detector that ensures a clear and unobstructed view of the area.
How Does an Automatic Smoke and Fire Detection System Work?
The SmokeD smoke and fire detection system relies on sensitive camera detectors to continuously collect visual data from the monitored area, which is then analyzed by advanced algorithms for any signs of smoke (during the day) or flames (24/7). Thanks to machine learning technology, our software uses gathered information to constantly evolve and provide even better accuracy over time as it starts to recognize patterns typical for the area and different types of wildfire hazards.
In addition to the system itself, we provide two dedicated applications: SmokeD Web for Internet browsers and SmokeD Alerts for mobile devices, which can automatically alert users after receiving a fire detection signal.
Our wildfire detection system requires very little human intervention apart from regular maintenance and allows access to live images of the monitored area via the fire alarm control panel online or in the mobile app.
Can Automatic Smoke and Fire Detection Systems Help in Wildfire Prevention?
Even the largest and most destructive wildfires can start with a single spark or unattended flame. Thanks to fire and smoke detectors with sensitive optical sensors, it’s possible to detect the first signs of fire, notify appropriate emergency services quickly, and contain wildfire risks before they spread and cause significant damage.
Due to the risks associated with smoldering fires in wildland areas, forest fire alarm systems need to be able to detect and accurately pinpoint the location of not only flames but also smoke.
The installation of remote-controlled smoke and fire detectors is a great solution for hard-to-reach and sparsely populated locations. It can be very useful, e.g., for out-of-town facilities, national parks, and communities in areas with increased wildfire risk.
What Are the Benefits of an Automatic Fire Detection System?
24/7 Monitoring of Vast Areas
Each SmokeD detector can cover 80 degrees horizontally, so to get full coverage of your surroundings within a 10-mile radius, you need five devices. Once installed, they will monitor the area 24/7 and send out a signal whenever any action is necessary.
Early Fire Detection
Even though wildfires start small, they can spread quickly due to the abundance of potential fuel. That’s why it’s essential to implement appropriate fire suppression methods as soon as possible to contain fire and stop its growth. Full automation of the detection process makes it possible to raise a fire alarm even just 10 minutes after the detector first notices signs of smoke or fire.
Quick and Automatic Fire Alarm Notifications
The sooner firefighters learn of an emergency, the bigger the chance of successfully extinguishing a fire before it gets out of control. Early detection and response can limit environmental and property damage and provide enough time to evacuate occupants of buildings located in the fire’s path.
