FireDome is working on a fire protection system based on the Iron Dome principle. The company's founder, Gadi Benjamini, proposes to use capsules with extinguishing liquid to bombard fire sites. This was reported by the Times of Israel.
In response to a signal from the fire service about the threat of a forest fire, the stationary mechanical launcher will release capsules resembling shells. They will open before impact, dispersing an environmentally safe extinguishing agent that creates a protective barrier and prevents the spread of fire.
The AI-powered system will then detect and eliminate localized fires caused by wind-borne fires that overcome the primary protective barrier.
“The smart capsules contain sensors that allow us to program the specific location in which they open up, disperse the material in the air above the ground, and create a kind of dome protection around the property or asset, so if a fire approaches, it will block it and we have the second layer to identify and react to spot fires that are ignited by drifting embers,” Benjamini tells about their system.
The initial version of the system is capable of protecting about 100 acres (~40.5 hectares) of land, which can include vineyards, hotels, or resorts. In the future, the startup plans to increase the protection radius to one mile (~1.6 km).
FireDome intends to have the first system ready for testing in Israel by May 2025. It is planned to be deployed in regions prone to forest fires, including the Jerusalem area and the Carmel Forest in the north of the country. In 2026, the Tel Aviv-based startup plans to launch pilot projects in the United States, focusing on cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
By the way, wildfires continue in southern California. According to AccuWeather's preliminary estimates, the damage and economic losses range from $135 to $150 billion. Every year, wildfires in the United States cause economic losses of $400 to $900 billion.
