
Israeli startup FireDome has developed a wildfire defense system. (Courtesy)
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL | Published January 13, 2025
System shoots capsules of eco-friendly fire retardant to create barrier; detects and extinguishes blazes; set for testing in Israel in May, and the US in 2026
In the midst of war, as sirens were blaring almost every day to signal barrages of incoming rockets, Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system tracked and intercepted missiles to help protect and save lives. For Gadi Benjamini, the Iron Dome in January last year inspired the idea behind the development of a system to fight wildfires and prevent them from spreading.
“Similar to a war to fight wildfires, there are the firefighters, which are the infantry. There are airplanes, but darkness makes it harder to fly during the night and also during strong winds, and what we develop is a kind of artillery support,” FireDome co-founder and CEO Gadi Benjamini told The Times of Israel. “The biggest challenge in the climate tech area are wildfires, and more specifically, the reaction to wildfires, because many companies focus on detection.”
“What we develop is a system to enhance firefighters’ abilities and capabilities to address more fires simultaneously, like spot fires and embers and to reach places where sometimes they can’t, due to different logistics constraints that they have,” he added.
Founded in 2024 by CEO Benjamini and Dr. Adi Naor Pomerantz, FireDome is developing a wildfire defense system, modeled after the Iron Dome, that pairs defense tactics and AI technology. Designed to detect and suppress fires, the autonomous patent-pending system is geared to provide two layers of protection.
In response to an alert by the fire department that a wildfire is approaching an area, first, a mechanical stationary launcher releases capsules similar to projectiles that open before impact to disperse eco-friendly fire-retardant to create a protective barrier and block the path of encroaching wildfires. Second, an AI-powered system leveraging computer vision and sensor technology detects and extinguishes spot fires caused by airborne embers that bypass the primary 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,” said Benjamini. “Eventually, the property remains intact and without any damage, similar to how the Iron Dome protects a city or neighborhoods by intercepting missiles before they arrive.”
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SOURCE: www.timesofisrael.com
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Fire Dome offers a new, high-tech approach to the growing environmental crisis and is designed to reach isolated places.
NEWS 24 ONLINE | Published January 13, 2025
In the face of increasingly devastating wildfires, innovative solutions are emerging to protect communities and prevent it from spreading. One such breakthrough is Fire Dome’s new system, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome Air Defense system. Founder in 2024 by CEO Gadi Benjamini and Dr. Adi Naor Pomerantz, the new wildfire defence system uses AI technology to detect and extinguish fires, providing two layers of protection.
The Times of Israel quoted FireDome Co-founder & CEO Gadi Benjamini as saying, “Similar to a war to fight wildfires, there are the firefighters, which are the infantry. There are airplanes but darkness makes it harder to fly during the night and also during strong winds and what we develop is a kind of artillery support.” Fire Dome offers a new, high-tech approach to the growing environmental crisis.
How The New System Works?
In response to an alert by the Fire Dept. on an approaching wildfire, the mechanical stationary launcher first releases capsules that deploy before potential impact to disperse eco-friendly fire-retardant to create a shield and block wildfires’ path. Secondly, an AI-Powered system that uses computer vision and sensors identifies and extinguishes spot fires, according to reports.
According to Benjamini, the first version of the system is being created to protect over 100 acres of land from wildfires. It is customized for small neighborhoods, hotels, resorts, and any place prone to forest fire. The Israeli startup aspires to get the first system ready for trial in Israel by May. The Tel Aviv-based startup also aims to start testing in the US in 2026.
Modelled on the Iron Dome, FireDome plans to detect and create a kind of dome protection around the property, incase a fire approaches. Reacting to the deadly wildfires that erupted in Los Angeles last week, Benjamini said it is premature to reach any conclusions as not all the data is available.
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SOURCE: www.news24online.com
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