Startups are using tech to douse the threat of future wildfires

Last month, the world watched in horror as catastrophic wildfires destroyed 57k+ acres and 16k+ homes and buildings in Los Angeles.

And while the two largest fires are now fully contained, it’s not exactly time to breathe a sigh of relief. 

Because of climate change, the extreme weather conditions that caused the fires — overgrown vegetation, draught, and strong winds — are estimated to occur every ~17 years, a ~35% increase in likelihood, according to a new study from World Weather Attribution. 

With wildfires increasing in frequency and intensity, startups are busy finding innovative ways to fight future blazes, per TechCrunch:

• For fire prevention, Vibrant Planet uses data to help utilities and land managers predict where wildfire risk is highest and connect them with stakeholders to mitigate that risk. 
• BurnBot, which raised $20m last year, created a remote-controlled machine that safely burns vegetation to prevent future fires. 
• Pano focuses on early detection, using AI to analyze data from field sensors, satellites, cameras, and emergency alerts.
• As does FireSat, a Google-backed constellation of satellites that uses AI to track wildfires. 

Extinguishing danger

While total prevention or early detection are ideals, other businesses are focusing on the inevitability that some wildfires will spread. 

Israel’s FireDome has raised $4.5m in funding to build its AI-powered fire-defense system that’s modeled after the country’s missile defense system, Iron Dome. 

• FireDome’s system launches capsules containing eco-friendly fire retardant and water into the air. 
• The capsules release the materials at designated coordinates, creating a perimeter of fire suppressant. 
• Then, an AI-powered system detects and extinguishes any additional fires caused by airborne embers. 

While combatting wildfires won’t be easy, you may find it comforting to know that startups like these are far from alone. 

There are 90+ companies working on tech to prevent, detect, and extinguish wildfires, per Dealroom.co, with a total valuation of $5.1B.