FireDome: Israeli Startup Adapts Iron Dome Technology to Combat Devastating Forest Fires

FireDome is a new Israeli startup that uses technology similar to Israel’s world-renowned Iron Dome missile defense system to fight forest fires. To that end, the firm completed a $3 million pre-seed round led by climate-tech investors including U.S.-based Third Sphere and Israel’s Gravity. FireDome also previously received a $1.5 million grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority.

So, how does one use anti-missile tech to fight wildfires?

FireDome’s advanced wildfire defense system employs a two-pronged approach. It first deploys a mechanical barrier to obstruct the direct path of wildfires. Subsequently, it actively identifies and suppresses spot fires ignited by airborne embers that may bypass the primary barrier.

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When a wildfire or spot fire is identified, the launcher springs into action, releasing targeted, fire retardant capsules to establish a defense barrier between your property and an encroaching fire or to eliminate threats at their origin point. Once deployed, the fire retardant stays active for weeks, ensuring your barrier stays strong and your property is secured.

Firedome’s algorithms deliver rapid, accurate responses, while its sensors detect fires and determine optimal trajectories instantly. Together, these capabilities deliver faster response times and minimize resource consumption. In addition to fire-retardant material, each of their patented smart capsules contains advanced sensors that ensure a single, precise material deployment in the air. This targeted deployment effectively creates the protective barrier and extinguishes fires by releasing fire-retardant material directly onto flames and spot fires.

So, like with the Iron Dome, FireDome first detects the threat and then launches counter-measures to block it.

“Global warming has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires, making it more challenging and complex than ever to protect communities and fight these fires,” says Gadi Benjamini, CEO of FireDome. “Rising wildfire risks have also caused insurance premiums to skyrocket in recent years, placing a heavy burden on property owners. By combining precision hardware, computer vision, and advanced algorithms, FireDome offers proactive defense solutions to meet these new challenges. Our vision is to forge partnerships within the climate tech ecosystem to create end-to-end solutions that will help communities adapt to global warming and strengthen resilience to wildfires.”