Visitors to Midpen’s Monte Bello Open Space Preserve may notice several new smoke-detecting devices that have recently been installed along the Bella Vista and Indian Creek trails. These are just a handful from a larger network of 50 sensors that have been installed at strategic locations throughout the Peninsula’s wildland urban interface-areas where human populations and undeveloped wildlands meet.
The sensors are intended to detect the earliest stages of a wildland fire by monitoring weather and air quality conditions, and in particular, carbon from wildfire smoke, in order to provide real-time alerts to first responders. The network of sensors can also track fire and smoke movement and can monitor air quality. These sensors do not have audio or video capabilities.
“Unlike the Alert California network of wildfire cameras that can ‘look’ for smoke, the N5 sensors act more like noses that will ‘smell’ smoke, and automatically notify firefighters of a potential fire before it may be visible to cameras," said Midpen Skyline Area Superintendent Chris Barresi.
This new network of sensors is the result of a cooperative effort between the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, Palo Alto Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services, Woodside Fire Protection District and Stanford University.