Teen Inventor Deploys Breakthrough AI-Driven Wildfire Detection System

A 17-year-old inventor from Newport Beach saw years of hard work come to fruition after he deployed his AI-driven early wildfire detection system near Irvine for the first time on February 10.

“It’s almost like a dream come true,” said Honary. “My product is finally being deployed and I’m hoping that my network will be successful in detecting these fires early on and saving the lives of not only just people but animals and our environment.”

The Technology Behind the Breakthrough

The detector is a wireless network that uses sensors, including infrared and gas, to detect the three main signatures of a fire—flame, smoke, and heat. An AI-based approach increases detection accuracy and reduces the number of false alarms.

Each detector can sense a fire over 1,200 feet away and is designed to identify very small fires before the flames reach more than three to four feet. Once a fire is detected, the system instantly notifies firefighters of its location and direction through text, email, and a web application.

Strategic Deployment Location

The deployment site near Irvine was chosen by partnering agencies for several reasons. The area is in a wildland-urban interface, where homes meet flammable brush and vegetation. There is also high-voltage equipment, including power lines, and an increased risk of car collisions starting fires, which has occurred multiple times along that road.

One significant factor is the geography of the Highway 133 corridor, a major fire corridor that creates “wind funnels” and increases wind speeds as air is forced through narrow canyons and valleys. A single spark can rapidly expand into a devastating fire, as witnessed in the recent Los Angeles County wildfires.

Future Expansion Plans

Honary plans to deploy five more detectors in March, with an additional 25 to be installed by September along the Highway 133 corridor. These strategic placements aim to create a robust early warning system.

Previous Successes in AI Fire Detection

In January, a different AI system in Orange County showcased its effectiveness when the University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia camera network’s AI alerted the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) of an anomaly seen on video footage around 2 a.m. on December 4. The anomaly was a vegetation fire in Black Star Canyon, east of Irvine Lake. This was the first fire identified exclusively by AI in the area.

Supporting Partnerships and Funding

In 2021, Honary formed a partnership with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, a nonprofit managing 50,000 acres of parks and wildlands in Orange County. This collaboration allowed him to pilot his project and provided substantial funding. The organization has donated $250,000 for broader network testing.

Honary was also awarded a research grant in 2020 from the Office of Naval Research, leading to the formation of his startup, SensoRy AI. The company has received multiple funding rounds for research and development.

Broader Impact and Future Goals

Honary plans to continue enhancing the product for the foreseeable future. He hopes his solution can be deployed not just in California but in other states and even countries.

Originally Published: February 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM PST