Gironde Tests New Fire Detector in Pine Forests

Why this is here: Ninety percent of fires in the area are attributed to human activity, such as discarded cigarettes or improperly extinguished barbecues.

In Landiras, France, the Gironde region is testing a new fire detector amidst its pine forests. The community experienced major wildfires in July 2022, destroying roughly 20,000 hectares of forest. Jean-Philippe Dulou, the new mayor of Landiras, recalls being evacuated for eight days during the fires and hopes to avoid a repeat.

Sylviacare developed the solar-powered detector. It hangs on pine trees and aims to identify fires by detecting infrared radiation beneath the forest canopy. The device sends geolocalized alerts with infrared images to firefighters when unusual heat emissions occur.

The detector is currently in a one-year trial phase and costs between 4 to 10 euros per hectare. While patented in Europe and the US, full production isn’t expected until 2027. The system’s effectiveness in reducing false alarms—a common problem with traditional detection methods—remains to be seen.