The FIREBird Deployment for Wildfire Detection

Overview and background

In 2024, the United States experienced a sharp rise in wildfire activity, with over 64,000 wildfires consuming nearly 9 million acres, and endangering countless lives. Suppression efforts cost upwards of $4.79 billion. By April 2025, over 16,000 wildfires had already ignited, signaling an ongoing crisis, burning a total of 803,349 acres.

This figure is well above the 10-year averages of 8,773 wildfires and 617,931 acres for the same period, indicating an alarming trend for the current year. Insured losses from major incidents, such as the Los Angeles wildfires, were estimated at approximately $28 billion, making them among the most expensive wildfires in U.S. history.

In California, where the landscape and climate make wildfire a persistent threat, local fire departments are taking proactive steps. One such agency, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, has implemented an innovative solution designed to enhance early detection and real-time weather monitoring across its wildland-urban interface (WUI).

The challenge

Wildland firefighters face increasingly complex and hazardous conditions. With over 20,000 wildland firefighters operating across federal, state, and local agencies, safety and situational awareness are paramount. Studies have shown a fivefold increase in wildland firefighter fatalities over the past decade, highlighting the escalating risks they face.

A key part of wildland fire behavior prediction relies on accurate and timely weather data; particularly wind speed and direction, which play a critical role in the intensity and spread of fires.

Southern California’s complex terrain adds further challenges. The San Bernardino and Angeles mountain ranges, with their transverse orientation, create unpredictable wind dynamics. Moreover, the region is vulnerable to powerful Santa Ana winds, which can accelerate fire spread and reduce the window for effective response.

The solution: FIREBird with FT Wind Sensors

To address these challenges, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has installed a network of 10 FIREBird devices developed by Lindsey Firesense; with plans in place for another 20 this summer. Each FIREBird is equipped with an FT Technologies wind sensor, forming a dense grid of advanced weather and fire detection units at approximately half-mile intervals along the WUI.

The FT wind sensor was chosen for its exceptional accuracy, ruggedness, and compact size, making it ideal for deployment in remote and exposed environments. Its solid-state ultrasonic technology enables it to deliver reliable readings of wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, and barometric pressure; all the critical variables for wildfire modeling.

Unlike traditional cup-and-vane anemometers, the FT wind sensor is resilient to dust, debris, and vibration, ensuring consistent performance in harsh wildfire-prone environments. Its wind data enables fire managers to identify subtle changes in local conditions that could precede a flare-up or shift in fire behavior.

A Game Changer for Early Detection

In addition to weather monitoring, the FIREBird devices use optical and infrared sensors to detect fire ignition events, day or night. Early notification of ignition, especially during vulnerable overnight hours, gives first responders the advantage of rapid initial attack, often making the difference between a manageable incident and a major disaster.

By combining real-time meteorological data from the wind sensor with automated fire detection, the FIREBird system allows fire agencies to make faster, data-informed decisions. This enhances not only response but also planning, resource allocation, and post-incident analysis.

See the KCAL news coverage about the Rancho Cucamonga FIREBird deployment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mDgFpzdWHI

Looking Ahead

The integration of FT wind sensors into Rancho Cucamonga’s FIREBird network is an example of how cutting-edge technology is transforming wildfire management. The system represents a shift towards proactive, intelligence-led firefighting that prioritises early detection and real-time environmental awareness.

FT743 wind sensor for wildfire monitoring

FT743-D-SM Wind Sensor

Designed for integration into OEM equipment, the FT743-D-SM delivers accurate wind speed measurement up to 75m/s, barometric pressure, temperature and full 360° direction measurement. It features superior corrosion-resistance with a hard-anodised body and is very tolerant of high electric field environments.

View the FT7 Series