FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S&T Public Affairs, 202-286-9047
LAHAINA, MAUI – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced the placement of 80 wildfire detection sensors across Maui and the Hawaiian Islands. The Department installed these sensors, which use state-of-the-art technology to detect the early stages of wildfires for operational testing and evaluation. Having successfully completed that testing, the sensors’ installation and functioning marks a significant milestone in the state’s resilience efforts, one year after the devastating Lahaina wildfires.
In March 2024, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov—along with U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D., Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, and state of Hawaii Department of Defense Adjutant General Kenneth Hara—announced the planned installation of the wildfire sensors. Over the past five months, DHS, the Hawaiian Island Fire Chiefs, the Hawaiian Electric Company, and engineering company Black & Veatch, collaborated on logistics to optimize sensor placement for wildfire ignition identification and notification to help improve community resilience. Today, Dr. Kusnezov joined the delegation of federal, county and community partners, to provide updates on the deployment as part of on-going recovery efforts.
“The Lahaina wildfires were a tragic reminder of the destructive power of wildfires and the need for advanced technology for preventing such disasters,” said Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “These advanced wildfire sensors utilize innovative technology and artificial intelligence to detect early signs of wildfires by monitoring gases and particulates generated by wildfires in real time. Their placement across Hawaii is crucial because it allows for immediate alerts to first responders, significantly reducing response times and the potential for devastating fires to spread.”
Specifically, 64 wildfire sensors and 16 wind sensors have been strategically placed across existing infrastructure in fire prone regions, representing a concerted effort to help prevent future tragedies by detecting wildfires at their earliest stages. An additional 16 mobile wildfire sensors are on standby for any post-burn monitoring as needed, such as around extinguished fires at risk of reignition.
Hawaii was one of the first locations to receive the newest wildfire sensors developed by S&T in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration. N5 Sensors, a small business partner, has been the contractor for this S&T program.
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