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The Times of Israel reported on Sunday that a creative Israeli startup is utilizing military technology from the Iron Dome missile defense system to fight a growing worldwide threat: wildfires.
The system, created by FireShield Technologies, combines real-time detection, sophisticated sensors, and precision extinguishing techniques to stop wildfires from spreading. The system uses a network of ground-based sensors and drones to monitor vulnerable areas for early signs of wildfires, like smoke or heat anomalies, and once a fire is detected, autonomous drones equipped with fire retardants are activated to put out the flames before they have a chance to spread. FireShield CEO David Levi explained that the system was inspired by the Iron Dome’s rapid threat intercepting and eliminating capabilities.
“The key to wildfire prevention is acting within the critical window of time before a small spark becomes a raging inferno.
“Our system uses similar principles of detection, tracking, and rapid response to protect both lives and ecosystems,” he said.
FireShield’s innovation has drawn interest from governments and private sectors in fire-prone regions worldwide, with the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection providing partial funding for the project, citing its potential to revolutionize wildfire management. The company has already conducted successful pilot tests in Israel’s Carmel Forest and California’s Napa Valley. The system reportedly extinguished fires in their early stages, significantly reducing damage. According to reports, wildfires, intensified by climate change, have caused billions of dollars in damage globally, devastating forests, wildlife, and human communities.
