Following a devastating wildfire season, which saw more than 2.84 million hectares of land burned in B.C. (more than double the area impacted during any previous year on record), B.C. residents now have reason to feel optimistic about the future of wildfire safety in our province.
As part of a two-year pilot project, Okanagan’s Predator Ridge, one of Canada’s leading four-season resort communities, has become a test site for SenseNet, a cutting-edge technology known for its unparalleled fire detection capability.
Based in Vancouver, SenseNet utilizes a network of sensors to detect early signs of fire in conjunction with smoke detection, and both thermal and satellite image processing. These data sources can be analyzed in real-time using advanced AI algorithms to detect the first signs of a fire before there is even any trace of smoke or flame. SenseNet utilizes a network of sensors to detect early signs of fire in conjunction with smoke detection, and both thermal and satellite image processing.
As the first residential and resort community in Canada to implement this technology, Predator Ridge has installed 100 sensors, 5 gateways, and 5 cameras as part of their groundbreaking investment in SenseNet technology. Featuring distinct neighbourhoods of award-winning homes nestled amongst 36 holes of championship golf, SenseNet is part of Predator Ridge’s long-term commitment to becoming the safest community in the region. "Investing in SenseNet technology is a testament to our commitment to the well-being of our residents,” says Brad Pelletier, Senior VP of Predator Ridge. “We are setting a new standard in residential safety by proactively addressing the growing threat of wildfires in our region." To date, this commitment includes an auxiliary operational fire station, property-wide irrigation system, emergency access roads, and community evacuation siren.
The network at Predator Ridge has undergone extensive testing as part of the pilot program, which is being carried out in cooperation with the City of Vernon, Vernon Fire Rescue Services, the Government of Canada, Innovate BC, and Rider Ventures, who have installed SenseNet networks in areas throughout the region. A recent test at Predator Ridge demonstrated the new system’s ability to detect invisible gas on the property’s 1,360 acres within just 54 seconds.
Necessity breeds innovation and the need for wildfire safety in B.C. is at an all-time high. While the initial results are impressive, it’s ultimately up to more communities to embrace forward-thinking fire safety solutions to ensure we never lose as much as we have in previous years. “Our technology is a tool,” says SenseNet CEO Hamed Noori, “the real champions are the forward-thinking leaders and fire departments who utilize these tools to enhance their capabilities in this new era of increasingly severe wildfires.”
To learn more about SenseNet and the ongoing pilot project at Predator Ridge, visit predatorridge.com.
