Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUTOMATED WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION SYSTEM
FOR DWELLINGS, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND PROPERTY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent
Application No.
15/804,040, filed November 6, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
Patent Application
No. 14/080,326, filed November 14, 2013, now abandoned, which claims the
benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/726,066 filed November 14, 2012, the
disclosures of all of
which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set-forth in their
respective entireties
herein, for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the apparatus,
techniques, and
methods designed to protect structures from wildfire and to control wildfire
behavior and
direction. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a fire
prevention and protection
system for mixing, transferring, and distributing a fire retardant in and to
desired areas around
and on the exterior surfaces of structures when needed, or in specific areas
to impede or
redirect the progression of the wildfire.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Wildfires across the United States are increasing in frequency
and
magnitude. Many authorities are calling 2018 the worst year for wildfires in
the history of
America. In California, the 2018 wildfire season was the deadliest and most
destructive wildfire
season on record, with a total of 8,527 fires burning an area of 1,893,913
acres (766,439 ha),
the largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season, according to
the California
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Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and the National
Interagency Fire
Center (NIFC).The Camp Fire destroyed more than 18,000 structures, becoming
both
California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record.
[0004] Although the relationship between climate change and the
incidence of
wildfires is speculative, the number of dwellings, buildings, structures, and
property at risk is
increasing. In the past decade, almost 40% of US homes have been built in the
"wildland-urban
interface," or areas where residential neighborhoods border upon forests or
grasslands.
[0005] This is particularly true in the Central and Western regions of
the United
States, where wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes and other
structures. About $3
billion is spent annually to fight these fires and this figure does not
measure the entire
economic impact of such fires.
[0006] Correspondingly, and as drought conditions continue to spread,
the
destruction risk from wildfire to residences exists throughout the U.S. and
all other forested
areas or grasslands in all other parts of the world. Accordingly, this is a
global risk without
precedent.
[0007] As more homes and communities are built along the interface
between urban
and forested areas, and particularly in areas that are historically burned by
wildfires,
correspondingly more and more of these structures are directly exposed to the
risks of
destruction by wildfires. This population and construction trend, coupled with
historical
timber management practices that have led to increased forest fuel loading in
recent decades,
and rapidly increasing drought
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conditions existing across the Central and Western U.S., have led to an
unprecedented number of
structures being in danger of exposure to, and destruction by, wildfires.
[0008] Under certain conditions, conventional methods of fighting
wildfires may
have little impact when the fires enter the urban-wildland interface where
residential
subdivisions have been built. Wildfire fighters often can only stand back and
watch as homes
in the path of a wildfire are destroyed. The inability of wildfire fighters to
prevent wildfire
from destroying communities has been seen dramatically in the past several
years, during
which many highly publicized wildfires destroyed thousands of homes throughout
the
Central and Western U.S., including Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Texas,
Oklahoma,
Utah and other states.
[0009] The costs associated with fighting wildfires pale in comparison
to the costs of
lost homes and other structures destroyed by wildfires. For example, according
to the
Insurance Services Office, Inc., the estimated insured losses arising out of
the wildfires in
San Diego and San Bernadino counties in Southern California in 2003 alone
exceeded over
$2 billion. Of this, over $1 billion in payments arose out of a single
wildfire - the Cedar Fire
- which destroyed over 2,200 residential and commercial buildings. On a
nationwide basis,
the annual insured losses attributable to wildfires for 2012 will be
undoubtedly much higher
and are known to have exceeded $5 billion by mid-year. The global losses are
likely a strong
multiple of this mid-year figure and may well exceed $100 billion when finally
tallied -
which may take some years.
[0010] From January 1 to December 22, 2017, there were 66,131 wildfires,
as
compared to 65,575 wildfires in the same period in 2016, according to the
National
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Interagency Fire Center. About 9.8 million acres were burned in the 2017
period, as
compared with 5.4 million in 2016.
[0011] In the Napa California fires that occurred during October 2017,
there were
8,900 structures burned. Forty-four people lost their lives due to those
fires. The estimated
insured property loss was $9.4 billion. That estimated insured property loss
does not account for
the cost to fight the wildfires.
[0012] In the December 2017 Thomas Fire in Ventura County California,
there
were 1,300 structures lost and 230,000 people were forced to evacuate. There
deaths of two
people were attributed to the fire. The insured property loss was estimated at
$2.5 billion. In
2017, over one-hundred people died in wildfires that occurred in Portugal and
Spain.
[0013] Given the staggering amounts of economic and environmental damage
caused by wildfires, there is increasing interest in mitigation techniques
that reduce the
risks to both communities and forested lands.
[0014] With respect to homes and business structures, there are several
wildfire
mitigation strategies that can be taken to alleviate the risk of wildfires
destroying
dwellings, residences, and buildings. These include relatively simple measures
such as
using noncombustible materials during construction and establishing an
effective
"defensible space" or vegetation clearing around homes located in at-risk
areas.
[0015] Many communities have adopted on a community-wide basis programs
to decrease fuel loads around urban-wildland interfaces by aggressively
thinning brush
and carefully managing controlled "burns." Good community planning before
residential
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areas are built is important. It may be unwise to locate residential
developments in areas
that are highly prone to wildfires and are not conducive to defensible space
clearing, brush
clearing or controlled burns.
[0016] Nonetheless, homes, commercial structures and other buildings
continue
to be built at the edges of the urban areas where the risk of wildfire is the
greatest, and
even deep in forested areas, much of the time for aesthetic reasons.
Accordingly, there is
an immediate need for systems that eliminate, reduce or at least substantially
mitigate the
risk that wildfires will destroy structures such as homes and the like,
wherever they are
built. The presently disclosed embodiments are directed toward meeting this
need.
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SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0017]
[0018] One or more techniques may protect a structure from fire. The
structure
may include a fire suppression system configured to protect the structure
and/or a desired area
around the structure from the fire. One or more techniques may include
determining that the
desired area is threatened by the fire based upon one or more factors. One or
more techniques
may include activating the fire suppression system from an activation
location, perhaps for
example remote from the wildfire suppression system.
[0019] One or more techniques may protect a structure from fire. The
structure
may include a fire suppression system configured to protect the structure from
the fire. One
or more techniques may include monitoring a water supply pressure of the fire
suppression
system. One or more techniques may include monitoring a water supply flow of
the fire
suppression system. One or more techniques may include determining that a fire
suppression
system demand exceeds a threshold, perhaps for example based on at least the
water supply
pressure and/or the water supply flow. One or more techniques may include
changing a flow
of a fire retardant of the fire suppression system to at least a first surface
of the structure,
perhaps for example upon the determining the fire suppression system demand
exceeds the
threshold.
[0020] One or more techniques may protect a plurality of structures from
fire.
One or more, or each, of the plurality of structures may include a fire
suppression system that
may be configured to protect the one or more, or each, of the plurality of
structures from the fire.
One or more techniques may include monitoring a water supply pressure of one
or more of the
plurality of fire suppression systems. One or more techniques may include
monitoring a water
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supply flow of the one or more of the plurality of fire suppression systems.
One or more
techniques may include determining that a fire suppression system demand for
the one or
more of the plurality of fire suppression systems exceeds a threshold, perhaps
for example
based on the water supply pressure of the one or more of the plurality of fire
suppression
systems and/or the water supply flow of the one or more of the plurality of
fire suppression
systems. One or more techniques may include determining which of the one or
more of the
plurality of fire suppression systems is directing a flow of fire retardant to
at least one
vertical surface of a structure respectively associated with the one or more
of the plurality of
fire suppression systems. One or more techniques may include changing the flow
of fire
retardant directed to the at least one vertical surface for one or more, or
each, of the
determined one or more of the plurality of fire suppression systems, perhaps
for example
upon the determining the fire suppression system demand exceeds the threshold.
[0021] One or more techniques may protect a plurality of structures from
fire. One or
more, or each, of the plurality of structures may include a fire suppression
system that may
be configured to protect the one or more, or each of the plurality of
structures from the fire.
One or more techniques may include determining a first set of one or more of
the fire
suppression systems that are proximate to a perimeter of an active fire
region. One or more
techniques may include determining a second set of one or more of the fire
suppression
systems, perhaps for example that are more distant to the perimeter of the
active fire region
relative to the first set of the one of more fire suppression systems. One or
more techniques
may include changing a flow of water directed to the second set of one or more
of the fire
suppression systems.
[0022] One or more techniques may estimate risk of exposure to fire for
one or more
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regions of a geographic territory. One or more techniques may include
determining a first
fire risk rank for at least one region of the one or more regions, perhaps for
example based on
one or more current atmospheric conditions corresponding to the at least one
region. One or
more techniques may include determining one or more fire characteristics of
the at least one
region, perhaps for example, based at least on one image of the at least one
region. The at
least one image may have been captured after a temporally recent past fire in
or near the at
least one region. One or more techniques may include determining a number of
fire
suppression systems located in or near the at least one region. One or more
techniques may
include determining one or more ember hazard effects for the at least one
region. One or
more techniques may include adjusting the first fire risk rank to a second
fire risk rank,
perhaps for example based on the number of fire suppression systems, the one
or more ember
hazard effects, and/or the one or more fire characteristics. One or more
techniques may
include determining an evacuation condition, perhaps for example based on the
second fire
risk rank. One or more techniques may include communicating the evacuation
condition to
one or more recipients.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The embodiments described herein will be better understood and
its numerous
objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following detailed
description of the
embodiments when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a residential structure
and the
area surrounding the structure, illustrating one embodiment of the fire
retardant distribution
system according to the present embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic layout view of the fire retardant
distribution system
shown in FIG. 1 with the structure removed to illustrate the system.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the primary systems according to
one
embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control system.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the control system according to one
embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic top plan view of a perimeter fire retardant
distribution system according to a second embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another primary system according to
one embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control
system.
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[0030] FIG. 7A is a schematic view of another primary system according
to
one embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control
system.
[0031] FIG. 7B is a schematic view of another primary system according
to
one embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control
system.
[0032] FIG. 7C is a schematic view of another primary system according
to
one embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control
system.
[0033] FIG. 7D is a schematic view of another primary system according
to
one embodiment, including the distribution system, the storage system and the
control
system.
[0034] FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a containment module according to
one embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 8B is a schematic view of a containment module according to
one embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a control system according to one
embodiment.
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[0037] FIG. 10 is an example topography illustration indicating an
assessment of
fire-hazard zones.
[0038] FIG. 11 is an example diagram of a computer/processing device
wherein
one or more of the concepts of the disclosure may be implemented.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] In some embodiments, a fire retardant distribution system is
disclosed for
use on any type of structure including residences, out buildings, barns,
commercial buildings,
and other structures and their associated surrounding landscapes, to name just
a few non-
limiting examples. The system is designed to prevent structures from catching
fire when a
wildfire approaches, and relies upon a spray system that when activated
quenches and coats
the exterior of the structures, decks and surrounding landscape very rapidly
with a fire
retardant that remains on the surface until washed off In some embodiments,
the system is
self-contained and relies upon tanks pressurized by a motive source such as
inert gas,
combustible fuel, electric, gravity, pump, or another power source to deliver
the fire
retardant to spray valves positioned on and around the structures. The motive
source is
operatively coupled to the retardant tank and the source of carrier. In other
embodiments, the
motive source of the system comprises water lines that are pressurized through
municipal
water systems or the pumping mechanism from water wells to provide water and
pressure to
the system.
[0041] There may be no need for electrical power in some embodiments,
although electrical power may be supplied by a battery backup system,
uninterruptible
power supply, or other source of local electrical energy if an electrically
operated control
system is used. The system may be activated manually, or may optionally
include a control
module that allows the system to be activated in any number of ways, including
inputs by
manual activation, remote telemetry and by remote access (such as by DTMF
telephone,
mobile device application, or internet link, to name just a few non-limiting
examples). The
system may be activated by a remote access (for example, using a satellite
link). The system
may be activated by/through one or more machines/devices or other non-human
intervention.
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The one or machines/devices may be self-learning. The one or more
machines/devices may
learn (e.g., automatically) and/or may make adjustments in determining system
activation. For
example, the one or more machines/devices may learn and/or determine one or
more
activation triggers for system activation. The one or more machines/devices
may learn and/or
determine a desired area for protection that may be threatened by a fire,
perhaps for example
based upon one or more factors.
[0042] Other embodiments are directed toward blocking or re-directing
the progress
of a wildfire, and comprise a pump powered by combustible compressed fuel,
electric, or
other power source that is connected to a reservoir of non-pressurized
retardant and a series
of distribution devices connected to the outflow of the pump. The distribution
devices are
positioned to spray the fire retardant in a line or arc that either blocks
progress of a wildfire,
or channels or blocks the direction of the fire in a desired manner. Several
subsystems, each
comprising a pump and the associated distribution devices may be laid out in
series so that a
fire retardant protection line several miles long may be quickly laid down on
vegetation. This
"flanking" technique allows wildfire fighters to control fire direction and
behavior at critical
points, typically near communities.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a fire retardant
distribution system
is illustrated schematically in a typical installment in a residential setting
that includes a
building 24 such as a typical home located near an urban-wildfire interface
area. The system
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only an illustrative example, and those
skilled in the art will
recognize from the present disclosure that many other configurations are
possible and will be
configured depending upon the desired area to be protected. In one embodiment,
the desired area
is defined as an area between a structure and at least one historical fire
originating location. In
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one embodiment, the desired area is defined based upon temperature inputs from
real-time
remote telemetry 73. In one embodiment, the desired area is defined based upon
relative
humidity inputs from real-time remote telemetry 73. In one embodiment, the
desired area is
defined based upon wind patterns inputs from real-time remote telemetry 73. In
one
embodiment, the desired area is defined based upon historical fire data and/or
historical fire
patterns. In one embodiment, the desired area is defined based upon fuel
distribution patterns
(e.g., of vegetative plant communities and/or of patterns of structures). In
one embodiment,
the desired area is defined based upon a perimeter of a (e.g., actively
burning) fire. In one or
more embodiments, the desired area may be defined based upon one or more of:
smoke
detection, flame detection, fire gas detection, volumetric sensing, video
imaging sensing,
multimodal object recognition, one or more occurrences of a
structure/building/house fire,
and/or one or more occurrences of fire(s) burning within a (e.g., set and/or
predetermined)
radius. For example, one may correlate predetermined densities of fuels which
lead to high
burn intensities, with other characteristics such as red flag warning days or
temperatures
which also lead to high burn intensities, with other characteristics such as
population which
could be indicative of higher human caused triggers of fire. Regardless of the
density of
homes and the potential for a burn, there still needs to be a fire start.
Looking at a
multimodal approach may find correlation amongst the commonly found variables
and
thereby better define high risk areas/areas to install fire suppression
systems.
[0044] One or more monitoring/suppression techniques may include remote
monitoring, activation (e.g., activation triggering), and/or wildfire
management. One or more
monitoring/suppression techniques may remotely monitor an individual structure
and/or an
entire region with one or more, or multiple, structures. Such remote
monitoring may be
accomplished without firefighting personnel "on the ground", for example. One
or more
monitoring/suppression techniques may consider local conditions (e.g., wind
and/or weather
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forecasts, etc.). One or more monitoring/suppression techniques may triage
areas that have a
risk (e.g., a highest risk) and/or an exposure (e.g., serious and/or material
exposure) to damage
from wildfire activity.
[0045] One or more monitoring/suppression techniques may protect one or
more, or
multiple, areas and/or sites threatened by an active wildfire. For example,
evidence appears to
suggest that embers may be a significant (e.g., primary) cause of the spread
of wildfire and the
ensuing loss of life and/or the destruction of property. Perhaps for example
under the right
conditions, embers from an active wildfire can travel over five miles. Such
embers may ignite
houses/structures/buildings that may have been thought to be in low risk
areas. One or more
monitoring/suppression techniques may monitor wildfire activity within one or
more regions
and/or provide preventive wildfire suppression within and/or near to the one
or more regions.
[0046] The system 10 includes several different components or
subsystems, including
a fluid-based distribution system shown generally at 12 and comprising the
pipes and nozzle
systems through which the fire retardant is delivered to and applied on
surfaces, a carrier
(such as water or other fire retardant carrier) and fire retardant storage
system shown
generally at 14 and comprising the storage tanks for storing separately both
the carrier and the
fire retardant when the system is not in use, and pressurization tanks for
pressurizing the
system and associated hardware, and a control system shown generally at 16 and
comprising
generally the devices necessary for activating the distribution system 10.
Each of these
components is described in detail below.
[0047] The system 10 shown in the figures illustrates a typical
residential
installation in which the system is configured to deliver the water based fire
retardant to the
exterior surfaces of the building 24, a deck 26 attached to the building, and
surrounding areas
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such as landscaping 28. In FIG. 1, the building is shown located adjacent to a
canyon area 30 to
illustrate both structure protection and possible "flanking" distribution.
[0048] The distribution system 12 is shown in isolation in FIG. 2 and
comprises a
system of pipes 20 and distribution spray nozzles connected to the pipes at
engineered
positions. The distribution system 12 illustrated herein also includes pipes
20 extending to the
edge of the canyon area 30. The type and size of piping 20 used in a
distribution system 12
depends on factors such as the size of the system and the amount of water and
retardant that
will be delivered through the system. Generally, any type of UV resistant
tubing will work
well for the pipes 20 used in system 12, including for example
polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe,
polyethylene tubing, copper tubing, galvanized pipe, or steel pipe, to name
just a few non-
limiting examples. With some combinations of metallic pipe and fire retardant,
care must be
taken to avoid corrosion of the pipes caused by the particular retardant that
is used. The
diameter of the pipe 20 also depends on the volume and the operating pressure
of fire
retardant delivered through the system.
[0049] The pipes 20 and associated distribution spray nozzles define a
distribution system 12 for the fire retardant contained in the storage system
14. The piping is
connected to the various source tanks for the fire retardant as described
below and is plumbed
through the walls of the structure or is buried underground. In some
embodiments, the piping
20 is installed during initial construction of the building 24 so that it may
be installed in an
"in-wall" manner for aesthetic purposes, under sheet rock and the like.
However, the system
may often be retrofitted into existing buildings, in which cases the piping 20
may be run
under eves and the like in a manner designed to be as inconspicuous as
possible, while
maintaining convenient access for maintenance purposes.
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[0050] The distribution system 12 may include several different types of
distribution spray nozzles. Each nozzle has a specified purpose. For example,
exterior wall
nozzles 34 are located at strategic positions along the perimeter of the
building 24 so that the
exterior surfaces of the building 24 are coated with fire retardant when the
system is
activated. Thus wall nozzles 34 are mounted under the eves or overhangs of
building 24 and
are configured to direct a sprayed stream of fire retardant onto the exterior
walls of the
building. There are six wall nozzles 34 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but as many
wall nozzles are
plumbed into the system as are necessary to uniformly coat the entire exterior
wall surface
area (or as much thereof as is practical). In some embodiments, wall nozzles
34 may be
mounted approximately every 30 lineal feet along the length of the wall, but
the separation
may be more or less depending upon system design specifics.
[0051] Likewise, the system 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes two deck
nozzles 36 located around deck 26. These deck nozzles direct a spray of fire
retardant onto the
horizontal surface of the deck and if desired, may be the type of nozzles that
rotate through a
complete circle so that they also deliver fire retardant to adjacent landscape
areas.
[0052] In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are four roof nozzles 38 situated so that
they spray
the entire roof surface. And the system 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes nine
separate landscape
nozzles 40 positioned around the landscaping 28, two of which (labeled 40a,
40b) are
positioned adjacent to the canyon area 30. It will be appreciated that in some
embodiments the
pipe 20 is buried underground in the landscaped areas for many reasons,
including aesthetic,
climate protection and damage control.
[0053] Each of the nozzles used with system 10 is of a type appropriate
for the
specific location. In some embodiments, wall nozzles 34 typically are misting
or flat sheet
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spray nozzles having about 1/2 inch diameter. These nozzles are mounted in
some
embodiments under the eaves of the building such that the nozzles protrude
about 1 and 1/2
inches from the eave. These nozzles may be plastic, stainless steel, or brass,
to name just a
few non-limiting examples. In some embodiments, these nozzles do not rotate
but instead
direct a spray, stream, arc or mist directly onto the vertical walls of the
building.
Nonetheless, in other embodiments these nozzles may be configured to rotate
when they are
pressurized to thereby spray fire retardant onto adjacent surfaces such as
soffits, decks and
the surrounding exterior ground.
[0054] In some embodiments, the deck nozzles 36 may be of the type
typically
seen in in-ground irrigation systems, such as pressure pop-up rotating
sprinkler nozzles.
These nozzles may be set to rotate through a complete 360 circle, or only
part of a circle. In
other embodiments, impact driven sprinkler nozzles may also be used for the
deck nozzles.
[0055] Roof nozzles 38 may be of the spray or impact type. In many
embodiments, all nozzles in system 10 are mounted so that they are either
concealed or
minimally visible when not in use so as not to detract from the aesthetic
appearance of
building 24. Thus, retractable type distribution nozzles may be mounted in the
ground or in
special boxes mounted on the deck, for example. Similarly, the roof nozzles 38
may be
mounted in architectural features on the peak of the roof such as cupolas or
dormers. The
cupola may be built to include blowout louvers and similar fittings that are
instantly blown
out when the fire retardant begins spraying out of a nozzle. A cupola also may
be built to
accommodate a retractable sprinkler head for use in the roof nozzle 38.
Regardless of the
type of nozzle used, there are sufficient roof nozzles 38 located along the
peaks and ridges of
the building's roof so that the entire roof is sufficiently and uniformly
coated with fire
retardant as to prevent and protect substantially the potential wildfire
damage.
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[0056] Similarly, the landscape nozzles 40 are selected to be of a type
that is
appropriate to the particular location. Pressure operating, retractable
distribution nozzles are
used in some embodiments, but other distribution heads also work well. With
respect to the
two landscape nozzles 40a and 40b located adjacent to the edge of the canyon
area 30, these
are in some embodiments impact heads, or "gun" type agricultural heads more
commonly
used to irrigate row crops.
[0057] In many embodiments, the distribution system 12 is not charged
with
fire retardant when the system is not in use. In other words, the pipe 20 is
empty when the
system is not in use. This eliminates any problems with freezing or corrosion
from the fire
retardant resident in the pipes (in combinations where this is a concern).
[0058] The storage system 14 will now be described in detail with
particular
reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the distribution system 12, storage system 14
and control
system 16 are shown schematically. Storage system 14 comprises one or more
water or other
carrier based fire retardant tanks, pressurization systems, and control valves
for operating the
system. Specifically, the storage system 14 illustrated in FIG. 3 typically
utilizes a double
tank arrangement 50 and a single pressurization tank 52. In some instances the
double tank
arrangement will be modified to include either a single tank or some multiple
of the double
tank arrangement. Alternatively, in some instances, as shown in FIG. 6, the
system relies on a
carrier from a source other than a tank such as a water well, municipal water
supply, pond,
water well, water tank, lake, or any other such water supply source that is
used to provide a
carrier that is fluidly coupled with a fire retardant from a tank. Hereinafter
said tank
arrangements will be referred to as "double tank arrangement 50". The double
tank
arrangement 50 contains both water or other carrier and the fire retardant,
separated for
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storage purposes into a carrier tank 51 and a retardant tank 53. During
storage, the carrier and
the fire retardant are stored in a non-pressurized state. The size and volume
of said tanks 50
varies according to the size of system 10. The double tanks 50 are sized so
that the tanks have
adequate volume to spray the desired volume of the fire retardant mixture
uniformly over the
entire area intended to be covered by the system 10. A variety of tank types
may be used for
the double tank arrangement 50. For example, double tank arrangement 50 may be
fiberglass
reinforced plastic, HDPE or steel, lined appropriately with corrosion
resistant materials, to
thereby prevent corrosion in the tanks which may impair system function when
needed for fire
suppression purposes. In a typical residential installation, the double tank
arrangement 50 has
a combined capacity of about 100 to about 350 gallons or larger. Larger tanks
of up to 10,000
gallons or more may be used with large structures or where retardant is to be
sprayed over a large
area or in community-based systems.
[0059] Some kinds of fire retardants that may be used in system 10 tend
to
stratify or chemically separate over time, rendering them inactive or
ineffective. Depending
upon the type of fire retardant used, the double tank arrangement 50 may be
fitted with
agitators such as bubbler or paddle-type mixers to keep the fire retardant
homogenous and
active or useful over time. A secondary bubbling line (not shown) may be run
from the
pressure tank 52 into the fire retardant tank 50 to cause either continuous or
intermittent
bubbling of nitrogen or other gas, which is sufficiently chemically inert to
be useful and
practical, through the fire retardant to mix the fire retardant and thus
prevent stratification.
The control system 16 may be configured to provide bubbling into the fire
retardant tank itself
when the system 10 is either activated or when stratification is suspected or
to prevent
stratification by time cycle operation.
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[0060] The double tank arrangement 50 is plumbed to pressure tank 52
through a pressure line 54. A valve 56 is in pressure line 54 and is, as
detailed below,
connected to and operable under the control of control system 16 through
control line 58. A
pressure regulator 60 with a vent is provided to regulate the pressure in
pressure tank 52. A
system flush pipe 65 branches from pressure line 54 and connects to outlet
pipe 62 upstream
from valve 64. A valve 67 is plumbed into flush pipe 65. The system flush pipe
65 is
explained below.
[0061] In some embodiments, pressure tank 52 may be a commercially
available
cylinder or set of cylinders charged with an inert pressurized gas such as
nitrogen that serves as
the motive force for the system 10 to deliver the water based fire retardant
through pipes 20 to
the various nozzles. Pressure tank 52 is of a sufficient volume and is charged
to an
appropriate pressure such that when the system 10 is activated, all or a
portion of the
fireretardant mixture contained in the double tank arrangement 50 may be
delivered through
the nozzles at an operating pressure appropriate to the system - about 50 - 60
psi in some
embodiments. A pressure regulator is typically used to regulate the operating
pressure of gas
delivered from pressure tank 52 to the double tank arrangement 50 and the
nozzles
downstream of the tank 50. In some embodiments, the double tank arrangement 50
is
capable of being pressurized up to about 120 psi or less.
[0062] Upon actuation of the system 10 the fire retardant and the
carrier are mixed
into a fire retardant and carrier mixture. Fire retardant contained in the
double tank arrangement
50 is delivered to the piping 20 on FIG. 2 of distribution system 12 through
an outlet pipe 62. As
noted, a valve 64, which is under the control of the control system 16 through
control line 58, is
plumbed into outlet pipe 62 near the double tank arrangement 50.
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[0063] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the double tank
arrangement 50 in
FIG. 3 may be limited to a single or multiple tank arrangement of fire
retardant in which case
the carrier is not contained within a tank. In such a non-limiting example,
the carrier is
provided through another source 55 such as a water well, municipal water
supply, pond,
water well, water tank, lake or any other carrier source available piped to
the fire retardant
tank or tanks through a piping system. In such a non-limiting example, the
other carrier
source is fluidly coupled to the single or multiple tanks of fire retardant
and delivered to the
piping on FIG. 2 of distribution system 12 through an outlet pipe 62.
[0064] In installations of system 10, the storage system 14 on FIG. 2
may be
located in any appropriate setting such as in a garage, HVAC area, out
building or constructed
pad.
[0065] It will be appreciated that storage system 14 may utilize
multiple double
tank arrangements 50 and multiple pressure tanks 52 if the size of the system
10 is sufficient to
warrant the capacity achieved by additional tanks.
[0066] Control system 16 (or activation system 16) is shown
schematically in
detail in FIG. 4 and includes an activation switch 70, which is typically an
electronic switch
such as a solenoid or mechanical relay or the like, and an auxiliary power
supply 72 such as
an external battery and/or uninterruptible power supply module. The control
system 16 is
operably coupled to the motive source and operable to actuate the motive
source. Activation
switch 70 is the main on/off switch for activating system 10 and is normally
powered by the
power supply to the building or location. However, in wildfire situations
electric power from
public utilities and the like may be cut off. Auxiliary power supply 72
provides electric
power to activation switch 70 through wiring 74 to ensure that activation
switch 70 is
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powered under all circumstances, even where the external electrical power
supply has been
interrupted. As indicated earlier, control lines 58 interconnect control
system 16 to valves 56
and 64, which preferably are electrically operated solenoid valves.
Alternately, all of the
valves described herein may be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or
manually (to name
just a few non-limiting examples), depending on the type of system that is
being used.
[0067] Activation switch 70 is operable under a variety of input systems
that are
capable of activating system 10. For example, switch 70 may be activated with
a manual
switch 75 that is located in, on or adjacent to the building 24. If a wildfire
is approaching the
building, the manual switch 75 is activated to begin activation of the system
10.
[0068] Activation switch 70 is further operable via coded remote
activation/access 76 such as an intern& portal access, mobile device
application or as a
coded series of tones (such as DTMF tones generated by a telephone handset) as
may be
desired. Thus, control system 16 may include a telephony systems wire to the
landline,
cellular or satellite phone systems so that switch 70 may be remotely operated
by calling a
specific telephone number and entering codes manually or automatically. The
building
owner, the local fire departments, etc. may use the coded remote access 76 by
dialing the
number, activating the applications or suitably transmitting a code or signal.
Switch 70 may
also be operated by on-site detectors 78 such as infrared, smoke, temperature,
and/or other
fire detectors located around the building, or by similarly situated RF or IR
or laser
controlled devices. For example, an infrared detector may be located near the
edge of canyon
area 30. If a wildfire is detected, the detector is capable of activating
switch 70. Similarly,
heat sensors and other types of similar sensors may be located around or near
a building, or
near the edge of canyon area 30 and configured for activating system 10.
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[0069] The fire retardant used in system 10 is in some embodiments a
liquid,
gel or powder that when properly combined or mixed with water or other carrier
flows
readily through the plumbing systems and through the nozzles. Because the
retardant
component may not be used for several years after double tank arrangement 50
is filled, in
some embodiments the retardant is not prone to degradation in effectiveness
over time.
Because the fire retardant is sprayed over buildings, in some embodiments the
retardant does
not discolor building surfaces, does not harm vegetation, and causes no other
environmental
damage. A wide variety of fire retardants suitable for use in system 10 are
commercially
available and may be selected on a project-by-project basis. By way of non-
limiting example,
fire retardants may comprise a foam, a Class A foam, or firefighting foam, as
well as fire
retardants marketed commercially under the brand names Buckeye Platinum Class
A foam
fire suppressant, Barricade, Phos-Chek, TetraKO, and FireIce may be used. In
some
embodiments, the fire retardant applied may be simply water, either from the
beginning of
application of fire retardant, or after such time as another fire retardant
has been exhausted
by the system. Therefore, as used herein, "fire retardant" is intended to
encompass water,
foam, foam/water mixture, or any other substance that will suppress or
extinguish fire.
[0070] Operation of system 10 will now be detailed. When system 10 is
not in use,
or "idle", the fire retardant double tank arrangement 50 is substantially
filled with water or
other suitable carrier and the fire retardant respectively but is not
pressurized;, alternatively,
a single tank or multiple tanks may be filled with fire retardant and a
suitable carrier is
provided through any other suitable source of carrier (not within the
tank(s)). Valves 56, 64
and 67 are closed. System 10 is activated in any number of the ways detailed
above. For
purposes of illustration, in this case it is assumed that the system 10 is
installed in a
residential structure and authorities, because of the threat posed by an
approaching wildfire,
have evacuated the resident of the structure. In other words, the system 10
was not activated
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prior to the building being evacuated. When the owner deems that the structure
is imminently
threatened by wildfire, the owner accesses the system by the Internet, smart
phone
application or calls the number for the coded remote activation/access 76 of
control system
16 on either a WiFi portal, landline, cellular or satellite phone. The coded
remote
activation/access 76 is configured to respond to the incoming access signal
and will prompt
the caller to activate switch 70 - that is, to turn switch 70 from the "off to
the "on" position.
For example, the coded remote activation/access 76 may prompt the caller to
enter an
authorization code such as a user name and password or numeric code to first
insure that the
caller is authorized to give the system further instructions. If the correct
user name and
password or numeric code is entered, the coded remote activation/access 76
will next prompt
the caller to a specific activation code or selection from a menu that may
include status
checks, inputs from sensors or to activate the activate switch 70. The
authorization code may
comprise a fingerprint and/or facial recognition.
[0071] When the caller enters the activation code, control system 16
sends
appropriate signals to valves 56 and 64, which as noted are electrically
operated valves such
as solenoid valves, causing the valves to open. As valve 56 opens, gas from
the pressure tank
52 flows into and pressurizes the double tank arrangement 50. With valve 64
open, both the
water and fire retardant begins flowing into outlet pipe 62 under the
pressurizing force applied
by gas from pressure tank 52, and thus into the entire distribution system 12.
Proportional
measures of both carrier and the fire retardant are maintained by pre-set
pressures or other
such mixing systems such as injector, venturi eduction, injection pitot etc.
The mixing system
may contain multiple points of injection, venturi eduction, injection pitot.
etc. The now
blended or mixed fire retardant flows quickly into pipes 20 and begins to be
discharged from
each of the nozzles in the system. Although the nozzles in the system are
configured to apply
the desired amount of fire retardant onto adjacent surfaces, a typical
application rate is
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between the range of 0.5 and 5 gallons per 100 square feet of surface. The
desired amount
may be calculated by the control system at the time of activation with inputs
from remote
sensors or the owner / operator. Additionally, this application rate may vary
with the type of fire
retardant used.
[0072] The fire retardant is sprayed out of the nozzles onto the
intended surfaces
until either the entire volume contained in the double tank arrangement 50 is
sprayed through
the nozzles, or the system is deactivated by deactivating switch 70 - that is,
the switch 70 is
moved from the "on" to the "off position which is dependent on the type of
switch selected
by the design process. In this regard, in some embodiments pressure tank 52
contains enough
pressurized gas to discharge the entire contents of fire retardant contained
in the double tank
arrangement 50 when said double tank arrangement 50 is full, and to clear all
fire retardant
contained in all plumbing lines in distribution system 12. Thus, if the system
10 remains
activated until all fire retardant is discharged through the nozzles, gas from
pressure tank 52
will flush all plumbing lines of fire retardant.
[0073] Similarly, the activation switch 70 may be turned off in any of
the ways
described above at any time after activation. When the control system 16
deactivates the system
(i.e. turns switch 70 off), both valves 56 and 64 are closed. The activation
switch may be
turned off and then turned on again at a later time provided there is
sufficient water and fire
retardant in the double tank arrangement 50.
[0074] Control system 16 is capable of closing valves 56 and 64 at
different times.
For example, valve 56 may be closed before valve 64 so that the double tank
arrangement
50 is allowed to depressurize for an interval of time. Valve 64 is then closed
by control
system 16. If deactivation is accomplished through use of various types of
coded remote
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activation/access 76 (as previously described) before all water or fire
retardant contained in
double tank arrangement 50 has been discharged through system 10, the fire
retardant
mixture remaining the in the pipes 20 downstream of double tank arrangement 50
may be
flushed out to clear the piping in the system to ready it for the next use.
This is done by
opening valves 56 and 67 with valve 64 closed. Valves 56 and 67 are allowed to
remain open
until all residual fire retardant has been discharged through the various
nozzles.
[0075] In some embodiments, the fire retardant used in the system 10 is
of the type
that will remain on the surface onto which it has been sprayed, providing
continuing protection
against wildfire, until the residual retardant has been washed off
[0076] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that
certain modifications and additions may be made to the system 10 as described
above and
shown in the drawings. For example, the system may be designed to operate on a
manual
basis only, thereby omitting control system 16. In this case, only one
manually operable valve
may be used in place of valve 56 shown in the drawings and the system is
activated by
manually opening the valve to deliver gas from the pressure tank to the double
tank
arrangement 50. Also a hose having a nozzle on one end may be connected to the
double tank
arrangement 50 to allow mixed fire retardant to be manually sprayed on
specific locations.
Separate lines may be plumbed into the system similar to standard hose bibs
that allow
firefighters to connect external hoses to the actual fire retardant supply. As
yet another
modification, large "guns" of sprinkler heads such as impact heads may be
mounted at tree-
top level to provide greater coverage of the surrounding structures. Moreover,
entire
communities may be protected by a single, large-scale installation along the
lines noted
above. In this case, each structure in a community may be individually
protected by a system
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10, with a community perimeter system for delivering fire retardant to a line
around the
community may be used to great effect.
[0077] An additional embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. In this system 100,
which
is the type of system that is used to flank a fire to control fire direction
or stop the fire's
progress in a specific direction, a series of "big gun" distribution heads
(such as
thoseavailable from Nelson Irrigation Corporation, 848 Airport Road, Walla
Walla, WA
99362-2271 USA) are positioned to spray fire retardant in a line over a
relatively long
distance. In many areas, historical fire data is available that provides a
reliable statistical
indicator of the direction that wildfires travel. In other words, in any given
area, by relying
upon factors such as weather, wind patterns, fuel distribution and historical
fire data and/or
historical fire patterns, firefighters are able to reliably predict wildfire
direction and
behavior. The system 100 is used to flank a fire by laying down a long line of
fire retardant
that is intended to stop a fire, or channel it away from a residential area,
or toward an area
where it is easier to fight, etc.
[0078] In some embodiments, system 100 relies upon a compressed gas
powered
pump 102 that is powered by compressed gas delivered to pump 102 through a
line 104 that
interconnects the pump to a tank 106 of a suitable compressed gas. Pump 102
may be a
diaphragm-type pump such as the IR AROTM diaphragm-type pumps available from
Ingersoll-Rand Fluid Products (170/175 Lakeview Drive, Airside Business Park,
Swords, Co.
Dublin, Ireland), to name just one non-limiting example, and may be powered
with
compressed nitrogen or air in tank 106.
[0079] One or more reservoirs 108 consisting of multiple double tank
arrangements 50
of both carrier or fire retardant are plumbed to pump 102 through pipes 110.
These reservoirs
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108 may be portable or located above ground, underground, or remotely from
pump 102, as may
the tank 106, depending upon the specific installation. A single outflow pipe
112 from pump 102
may be connected to a T-fitting 114 and there are two branch lines 116, 118
extending from the
T-fitting. Plural spray distribution heads 120 are plumbed inline in the
branch lines 116 and 118 -
twelve distribution heads 120 are shown in the system 100 in FIG. 5.
[0080] Each distribution head 120 is preferably a "big gun" type of
spray
head configured to distribute a desired quantity of fire retardant. In the
embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 5, the system 100 is pressurized and the components are
sized so that fire
retardant is sprayed from each distribution head in a circle having a diameter
of about 100 feet
(dimension A in FIG. 5). It will be appreciated that the length of the
perimeter line defined by
branch lines 116 and 118 may be up to 1/4 mile, and more, as shown by
dimension B, FIG. 5.
The area of ground onto which fire retardant is distributed with the system
100 is illustrated
with dashed lines around the perimeter of the system.
[0081] Depending upon the area that is to be protected, several systems
100
may be arranged in series to provide a protection line that is many miles in
length. The system
100 may beneficially be used to deliver fire retardant to at least a part of a
perimeter around a
residential area, and in particular those perimeter areas that are most prone
to be hit by wildfire.
[0082] System 100 includes activation means for activating the system,
which may
be of any of the types described above.
[0083] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a fire retardant delivery
system 200
for protection from wildfire. The system 200 includes a containment module 201
(illustrated
in detail in FIG. 8) for retaining at least some of the system components. In
one embodiment,
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the containment module 201 is approximately 48 inches long, approximately 30
inches wide
and approximately 30 inches tall and placed discreetly along the side of a
structure 210 which
is to be protected. In other embodiments, the containment module 201 may be
any suitable
size for the size of the structure 210. In other embodiments, the containment
module 201 may
be positioned anywhere within proximity to the structure 210. In some
embodiments, more
than one containment module 201 is included in system 200. In other
embodiments, the
containment module 201 is not included). As shown in FIG. 8, the containment
module 201
includes a fire retardant tank 202. The retardant tank 202 contains a fire
retardant. The
containment module 201 further includes other equipment operative to apply the
fire
retardant. In one embodiment, the fire retardant is stored in a non-
pressurized state. In one
embodiment, the fire retardant is at least one of a liquid, a liquid foam
concentrate, a gel, or a
powder fire retardant. In one embodiment, the fire retardant is
environmentally safe, non-
toxic, and biodegradable. In one embodiment, the retardant tank 202 includes
an agitator 205
to periodically stir the fire retardant.
[0084] The retardant tank 202 is in fluid communication with a source of
carrier
204. The source of carrier 204 discharges a flow of carrier to mix with the
fire retardant that
is injected from the retardant tank 202 to create a fire retardant and carrier
mixture. In one
embodiment, the source of carrier 204 is selected from at least one of a water
tank, a
municipal water supply, a water well, a lake and/or a pond. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the source of carrier 204 is in fluid communication with the containment
module 201
through a spigot 206 at the structure 210. Alternatively, the source of
carrier 204 may be in
fluid communication with the containment module 201 through the structure's
water supply
system. In the illustrated embodiment, a hose 208 fluidly couples the spigot
206 to the
containment module 201. In other embodiments, any means for delivering a
carrier, for
example a pipe, may be utilized to fluidly couple the spigot 206 or the source
of carrier 204 to
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the containment module 201. In one embodiment, an optional carrier valve (or
set of valves)
209 may be positioned in fluid communication between the source of carrier 204
and an
injection port 217 extending from the containment module 201. The carrier
valve 209
isoperative to either connect or disconnect the source of carrier 204 to the
injection port 217.
In one embodiment, a backflow protection valve (not shown) may be included to
prevent
backflow of carrier contaminated with retardant into the source of carrier
204. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, a booster pump 229 is provided in flow
communication with
the hose 208 to increase a flow of the carrier.
[0085] Injection of the fire retardant into the carrier to form a fire
retardant and
carrier mixture is accomplished by a metering valve 218 (described in greater
detail below).
Fire retardant may be supplied from the retardant tank 202 to the metering
valve 218 through
a retardant valve (or set of valves) 212. In one embodiment, as illustrated in
FIG. 8 the
retardant valve 212 may be positioned within or adjacent to the retardant tank
202. A control
system 214 may be operatively coupled to the retardant valve 212. In one
embodiment, the
control system 214 is coupled to a sensor 216, for example a heat sensor that
detects the
presence of fire. In one embodiment, upon detecting fire, the control system
214 is operative
to open the retardant valve 212. When the retardant valve 212 is opened, the
retardant flows
through the metering valve 218 which injects the retardant into the hose 208
through the
injection port 217. At least one check valve 231 prevents the flow of fire
retardant and carrier
mixture back into the containment module 201.
[0086] The metering valve 218 is constructed and arranged to meter a
flow of the fire
retardant into the carrier. The metering valve 218 may be positioned within
the containment
module 201 in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the metering valve 218 may be
a direct
current (DC) pump. In another embodiment, the metering valve 218 may be an
alternating
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current (AC) pump. In one embodiment, the metering valve is a peristaltic
pump. The
metering valve 218 is configured to maintain a predetermined proportion of
fire retardant to
carrier in the fire retardant and carrier mixture. In one embodiment, the
metering valve 218
meters the flow of retardant into the carrier based on an amount of carrier
flowing from the
carrier source 204. A flow meter 227 may be provided to measure the amount of
carrier
flowing from the carrier source 204. In particular, because the source of
carrier 204 may not
maintain the carrier at a uniform pressure, varying amounts of carrier may
flow from the
source of carrier 204 at different times. The metering valve 218 adjusts the
amount of
retardant being injected into the carrier to maintain a consistent proport on
of fire retardant to
carrier in the fire retardant and carrier mixture at a desired dilution rate.
In one embodiment,
the metering valve 218 is controlled by a metering valve control 219. The
metering valve
control 219 receives information from the flow meter 227 regarding the amount
of carrier
currently flowing from the carrier source 204 and uses this information to
control a rate at
which the metering valve 218 injects fire retardant into the carrier to form
the fire retardant
and carrier mixture. For example, in embodiments where the metering valve 218
is a pump,
the metering valve control 219 slows the pump down when the flow meter 227
detects a
reduction in the amount of carrier arriving from the source of carrier 204,
and vice versa. The
fire retardant is then injected into the hose 208.
[0087] At least one distribution nozzle 220 is positioned on or
around the
structure 210 and configured to deliver the fire retardant and carrier mixture
to a desired area. In
one embodiment, nozzles 220 are strategically mounted on the roof of the
structure 210 and
under the eaves of the structure 210 to facilitate evenly applying fire
retardant and carrier
mixture to all surfaces of the structure 210 including decks, windows and
landscape. In one
embodiment, the nozzles 220 are mounted to the structure 210 in a manner that
keeps the
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nozzles 220 relatively unseen. In one embodiment, a valve box 230 controls a
flow of at least
one of fire retardant and carrier to the distribution nozzles 220. In one
embodiment, shown in
FIG. 7A, the fire retardant is injected into the carrier at the containment
module 201, so that
the valve box 230 controls the flow of the fire retardant and carrier mixture.
In one
embodiment, shown in FIG. 7B, the fire retardant is injected into the carrier
downstream of
the containment module 201 and upstream from the valve box 230, so that the
valve box 230
controls the flow of the fire retardant and carrier mixture. In one
embodiment, shown in FIG.
7C, the fire retardant is injected into the carrier downstream of the valve
box 230, so that the
valve box 230 controls the flow of only the carrier. In one embodiment, shown
in FIG. 7D,
the fire retardant is injected into the carrier at the valve box 230, so that
the valve box 230
controls the flow of both the fire retardant and the carrier. In other
embodiments, the fire
retardant may be injected into the carrier at a location near the top of the
structure and/or at
the distribution nozzles 220.
[0088] In one embodiment, the system 200 includes an autonomous power
source
222, for example a battery, to power the system 200. In one embodiment, the
power
source 222 provides power to the system 200 so that the system 200 is able to
operate in the
event that there is no electrical transmission to the property. In one
embodiment, the control
system 214 and the overall system 200 may be controlled by separate autonomous
power
sources. In one embodiment, a single backup power source powers both the
system 200 and
the control system 214. In one embodiment, at least one autonomous power
source 222A is
positioned within of the containment module 201, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In
one
embodiment, at least one autonomous power source 222B is positioned in the
control system
214, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In other embodiments, the system requires no
separate power
source 222, and power is supplied to the system by the water pressure supplied
by municipal
water lines or a well-based water system. In such embodiments, the valve box
230 (e.g., a
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proportioning valve or proportioner) requires no external power, as it
operates by thepressure
of the water coming into the proportioner. The proportioner is able to adjust
the amount of
foam concentrate or other fire retardant being proportioned into a variable
water stream.
[0089] In one embodiment, the system 200 can be activated through a cell
phone,
through a smart phone app, through telephonic code, through computer log in,
and/or
through the direct push of a button, to name just a few non-limiting examples.
In one
embodiment, the system 200 allows for remote activation by a home security or
home
automation system. In one embodiment, the control system 214 enables two way
communications between the system 200 and at least one of the devices listed
above. In one
embodiment, a modem 221 or other communication device enables the two way
communications. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the containment module 201 may
include at least
one modem 221A and at least one autonomous power source 222A. The control
system 214
is further illustrated in FIG. 9. As illustrated in FIG. 9, at least one modem
221B and at least
one autonomous power source 222B may be provided within the control system
214.
Additionally, a keypad 223 and connectors 225 for zone valves (described in
more detail
below) may also be positioned within the control system 214. In one
embodiment, the
connectors 225 may be housed in another enclosure that is separate from the
control system
214. In one embodiment, the system 200 is coupled to a burglar alarm to notify
authorities of
the presence of fire.
[0090] In one embodiment, after the fire retardant is applied to the
structure 210,
the fire retardant can be rehydrated multiple times during a wildfire event
and remains
effective in protecting the structure for predetermined period of time
depending on ambient
environmental conditions. After applied, the fire retardant may be cleaned up
through the use
of a hose, a power washer, and/or any other device capable of spraying water.
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[0091] In one embodiment, during operation, the system 200 may be
plumbed
into the structure's water supply system as the source of carrier 204. In one
embodiment, the
carrier fills the system 200 up to the valve box 230, when the system is
inactive. In particular,
water travels down the hose 208 to the valve box 230 via the force of the city
water or rural
well pump. When the system 200 is inactive, the carrier in the system 200 is
not mixed with
retardant. Upon activation of the system 200, the valve box 230 opens the
output line 217 to
the distribution nozzles 220, and the carrier within the system 200 that is
not mixed with
retardant flows through the distribution nozzles 220 to run water through at
least one zone
onto the structure 210. New water entering the system 200 is injected with
fire retardant from
the retardant valve 212 to proportionally inject the fire retardant into the
water stream at a
pre-set dilution rate. This proportioning system may be capable of
accommodating spikes and
dips in the rate of carrier flow, as measured by the flow meter 227, so that
fire retardant is
injected into the carrier at the desired dilution rate. After being injected
the fire retardant
and carrier mixture is applied to the structure 210 or landscape. The
structure 210 may have
multiple zones and the fire retardant and carrier mixture is applied via these
zones. In one
embodiment, the fire retardant and carrier mixture is applied one zone at a
time. In other
embodiments, the fire retardant and carrier mixture may be applied to multiple
zones at the
same time. The fire retardant and carrier mixture may be applied through
sprinkler heads,
the types of which will vary based on zone location, but may include
irrigation rotors, spray
heads, and micro irrigation mister type heads, to name just a few non-limiting
examples. All
surfaces on the structure 210 are treated with fire retardant and carrier
mixture including the
roof, walls, glass, eaves, and decks. Also treated is an area of the landscape
surrounding the
structure 210. In one embodiment, the fire retardant may be rehydrated
multiple times. In
another embodiment, only the roof and surrounding landscape is treated.
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[0092] One or more devices, systems, and/or methods may include one or
more
hydraulic management techniques. One or more hydraulic management techniques
may
include monitoring and/or adjusting a hydraulic capacity of the water supply
at an
individual structure 210 and/or within an area, for example. One or more, or
each, fire
monitoring/suppression systems may have a flow meter and/or a water pressure
sensing
device installed at the point of connection to the water supply and/or
downstream
therefrom. Perhaps, for example, when a monitoring/suppression system demand
exceeds
the hydraulic capacity of the water supply, among other reasons, such a
monitoring/suppression system may adjust the flow of the fire retardant and/or
carrier
mixture to higher risk areas on the structure 210 (e.g., roof surfaces),
and/or to higher risk
areas within an active wildfire region. The one or more hydraulic management
techniques may
be applied to one or more, or multiple, houses/structures/buildings and/or one
or more, or
multiple areas (e.g., not limited to an individual house/structure/building
and/or area). One or
more hydraulic management techniques may manage the hydraulic capacity within
an entire
region of wildfire activity, for example.
[0093] For example, one or more hydraulic management techniques may
curtail
flow of the fire retardant and/or carrier mixture to certain surface areas
which are less
susceptible to fire embers (e.g. vertical walls) and/or may direct flow of the
fire retardant and/or
carrier mixture to continue and/or increase on higher risk horizontal surfaces
(e.g. roofs and/or
decks). As used herein, the term "horizontal" may include surfaces that are
completely
horizontal, and/or surfaces which might not be completely horizontal (e.g.,
which may have a
non-vertical slope, such as sloped roofs, etc., and the like).
[0094] For example, on a regional basis (e.g., an active fire region),
perhaps if
twenty systems are operating, perhaps at least fifteen systems may be treating
horizontal
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surfaces (e.g., high-risk surfaces), while perhaps five systems (e.g., one or
more of which
may be the same systems as the fifteen systems and/or one or more of which may
be
different systems than the fifteen systems) may be treating vertical surfaces
(e.g., lower-risk
surfaces). There might not be sufficient flow and/or pressure to operate most
of, or all of,
the twenty systems completely. One or more hydraulic management techniques may
throttle
flow (e.g., reduce flow, perhaps even to substantially zero flow) of the fire
retardant and/or
carrier mixture to one or more, or all, of the vertical surfaces, which may
preserve and/or
increase flow to one or more, or all, of the horizontal surfaces. One or more
hydraulic
management techniques may increase and/or maintain the flow of water and/or
fire retardant
to areas/fire suppression systems that are closer to the perimeter of the
wildfire area (e.g., an
active fire region) and/or may reduce the flow of water and/or fire retardant
to areas/fire
suppression systems that may be further away from the perimeter of the
wildfire area. In one
embodiment, a fire department may create a polygon on a map displayed on an
input screen
of a control system operative to control a plurality of the presently
disclosed systems, and
execute a command that activates all systems located within the area contained
within the
polygon, and such systems would then be subject to the hierarchy of hydraulic
management
disclosed herein.
[0095] Devices, systems, and/or methods that may protect buildings from
wildfire
and/or other fire hazards may be useful. Devices, systems, and/or methods that
not only
protect a building from wildfire and/or other fire hazards, but also creates a
"protection
effect" on one or more surrounding buildings may be useful. For example, an
incident
command system, such as (or including) one of the control systems disclosed
herein, may be
used by a fire service to initiate an immediate georeferenced event at the
location of an
incident. If the incident is a structure fire (interior or exterior), for
example, this would cause
the control system to automatically activate fire suppression systems on
either side of the
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structure that is burning. By doing so, adjacent structures would be
immediately cooled and
thereby not reach a combustion point. In another example, by having a network
of fire
suppression systems under the control of a control system as disclosed herein,
a mesh is
created where when one fire suppression system activates, other fire
suppression systems
under the control of the control system are thereby activated according to
predetermined
rules contained in the control system. FIG. 11 and the accompanying
description below
provides additional details for such a control system.
[0096] Devices, systems, and/or methods that implement one or more
algorithms
that: may identify one or more geographical areas that possess (e.g., varying)
degrees of
wildfire exposure, that may identify one or more hazard/exposure radius from a
wildfire to
the public, and/or that may identify one or more areas that are more protected
from wildfire
than others may be useful. For example, state and/or federal governments can
use the output
of such one or more algorithms to establish an accurate radius from a wildfire
to be used for
public health and/or safety. Also by way of example, insurance companies can
use the output
of such one or more algorithms for determination of portfolio risk exposure
and/or risk
reduction.
[0097] One or more algorithms may rank fire hazard rating(s) of one or
more
(e.g., individual) buildings and/or areas (e.g., of different sizes), perhaps
with significantly
higher accuracy than conventional tools. The output of the one or more ranking
algorithms
(and/or the algorithms themselves) may be useful for insurance companies,
federal
government(s), state/local governments, municipalities, fire districts,
realtors, companies that
provide fire hazard ranking systems, and/or companies that offer wildfire
mitigation services.
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[0098] For example, insurance companies can use the output of the one or
more algorithms to (e.g., better) set insurance prices, and/or to reduce
operational costs
associated with the identification of risk. For example, federal
government(s), state/local
governments, fire districts, and/or municipalities can use the output of the
one or more
algorithms to determine (e.g., more accurate) evacuation trigger points for
purposes of
maintaining public health and/or safety. One or more private firefighting
agencies can use
the output of the one or more algorithms to identify potential customers in
wildfire exposure
areas. The output of the one or more algorithms may be used by public/private
agencies for
other natural disaster scenario analysis, perhaps in addition to fire
analysis.
[0099] Currently, insurance companies and/or vendors to the insurance
industry,
perhaps among others, may use geo-information and/or weighting algorithms to
assess fire
risk. The accuracy of currently used techniques is questionable. Many
currently used
techniques operate without knowledge of their respective accuracies. Currently
used
techniques might not use historical information to identify if their
algorithms are accurate.
As such, currently used techniques might not possess any feedback loop for
purposes of
retooling/adjusting the respective algorithms. For example, currently used
techniques often
find that burned/burnt-down houses were marked safe. Currently used techniques
should not
have marked those houses as safe, and should have been aware (e.g., via
feedback loop(s))
that those houses were already burned/burnt-down.
[00100] One or more algorithms disclosed herein may create higher levels
of
accuracy in determining areas of exposure. One or more algorithms disclosed
herein may
include one or more feedback loops to verify algorithm accuracy and/or to
automatically
retool/adjust algorithm accuracy.
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[00101] One or more algorithms disclosed herein may consume one or more
currently available fire risk rankings. The one or more algorithms may
incorporate such
rankings into the algorithm(s), and/or may add one or more factors, which may
make the one
or more algorithms (e.g., significantly) more accurate than existing and/or
previous methods.
[00102] The one or more algorithms may include one or more, or multiple
feedback loops. The one or more feedback loops may include review, analysis,
and
refinement of the algorithm after one or more, or each, fire. Information
and/or data provided
from the one or more feedback loops may be included in the (e.g., dynamic)
evolution of the
one or more algorithms. Ranking(s) produced by at least some of the one or
more algorithms
may be improved by using image processing of maps, for example.
[00103] One or more algorithms may include the effect of ember hazard(s)
and/or
may use simulated scenarios to identify the reaction to such events on a
building(s) and/or its
surroundings.
[00104] One or more algorithms may implement one or more public safety
mechanisms to identify one or more geographic locations or points from which
an evacuation
process(es) , or shelter in place process, may be activated by the fire
service or by federal,
state, and/or local government officials. The one or more public safety
mechanisms may
assist in the identification of fire control and monitoring systems, and/or
such systems' risk
mitigating effect on civilian and/or first responder life and safety, and/or
the risk mitigation
effects on nearby buildings. By using information/data provided by the one or
more feedback
loops, the one or more algorithms may continuously and/or dynamically evolve.
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[00105] One or more algorithms may include at least one module that
(e.g.,
automatically) identifies fire incidents. For example, fire incidents may be
identified by
collecting information/data through (e.g., established) structured data
sources and/or unstructured
Internet public data, perhaps for example including personal data of people
affected by fire(s) in
social media. Such information may be used (e.g., perhaps with artificial
intelligence) to
establish one or more machine learning loops.
[00106] For example, the georeferenced location of fire perimeters may
be
defined in maps available to the control system. Often, however, structures
burn outside of
these fire perimeters due to win-borne embers landing on adjacent structures.
The control
system may also have access to data (such as, for example, local, state,
and/or federal
government data) that identifies and logs the georeferenced location of
structures burned in
a fire. By overlaying the location of the fire perimeter on top of the
location of where
structures burned, the control system obtains a true representation of the
ember effect of
wildfires. In some cases, these embers can land five miles outside of the fire
perimeter.This
is an analysis that is helpful to understand what structures are exposed to
fire damage if
there is a fire.
[00107] As another example, the control system algorithm may compare two
sets
of data, such as georeferenced fire perimeter data and population data for
example, and
determine a correlation between population and the occurrence of fire
incidents. The control
system would thus learn where fire is more likely to start based on population
within a
monitored area.
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[00108] As a further example, the control system algorithm may perform a
suppression analysis based on available infrastructure, such as the number and
size of
roadways providing access to an area to actually reach a fire with human
personnel, and/or
availability of aircraft/vehicles operative to suppress a fire, and determine
a correlation
between the success of suppression efforts based on access to such
infrastructure. Such data
may be further correlated to other variables, such as time of year, or past,
present or
predicted future weather event in the area.
[00109] As another example, the control system algorithm may perform analysis
on
historical data of square footage/acres of combustible material (i.e.,
critical fire mass) to
determine the probability of a fire if the area is not suppressed at a certain
time of year
(based on historical weather patterns), which allows a prediction of the size
of civilian
population and structure population that is threatened by fire.
[00110] By providing a control system algorithm capable of such analysis, in
some
embodiments as part of a search query mechanism, and operating on top of a
self-learning
algorithm, the system may provide predictability of exposure to civilian
populations, homes,
and infrastructure to fire.
[00111] In one or more techniques, computing device 1104 and/or control
system 214
may be configured to determine one or more activation triggers for any of the
fire suppression
systems described herein. The computing device 1104 and/or control system 214
may perform a
reconfiguration of the computing device 1104 and/or control system 214,
perhaps for example
using the information and/or data. In one or more techniques the computing
device 1104 and/or
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control system 214 may be configured to determine one or more adjusted
activation triggers,
perhaps based on the reconfiguration.
[00112] Also by way of example, the at least one module may identify one or
more houses/structures/buildings that were in a fire's range and/or were in
danger of fire
damage/destruction and were saved or not burned (e.g., for known or unknown
reasons).
Such 43 houses/structures/buildings may be marked and/or alerted with a
notification of some
kind (e.g., a "you were lucky" alert or notification, and/or the like). Such
alerts and/or
notifications may be transmitted via a communication (e.g., email, government
mail, private
courier, text message, and/or telephone call, and/or the like). The alerts
and/or notifications may
advise owners/renters/lessees, etc., of such houses/structures/buildings that
their properties were
in hazards' way and, for whatever reason, their properties were not damaged
(e.g., a "you got
lucky this time" warning, and/or the like). The alerts and/or notifications
may urge and/or
motivate the owners/renters/lessees, etc., to protect themselves from future
hazards which could
result in damage/destruction of their properties and/or harm to their person.
The messaging of
wildfire exposure is a core component to creating a safer civilian
environment.
[00113] FIG. 10 includes an example topography illustration indicating an
assessment of fire-hazard zones. In FIG. 10, zones 1002-1014 of potential fire
hazard are
illustrated. If a single structure is burning when there is no wildfire, there
are firefighting
resources to protect the structure. When a single structure is burning during
a wildfire, or a
plurality of structures is burning during a wildfire, the exposure is simply
so great that it
overwhelms traditional firefighting resources and capabilities. The presently
disclosed
embodiments provide automated systems to mitigate such limitations of
traditional
firefighting resources.
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[00114] The potential fire hazard among at least some of the zones 1002-1014
may be the same or substantially similar, and/or the potential fire hazard
among at least
some of the zones 1002-1014 may be different or significantly different. For
example, zone
1002 may have an 85% rank of fire potential, zone 1004 may have an 85% rank of
fire
potential, zone 1006 may have a 50% rank of fire potential, zone 1008 may have
a 42%
rank of fire potential, zone 1010 may have a 94% rank of fire potential, zone
1012 may have
an 88% rank of fire potential, and/or zone 1014 may have a 60% rank of fire
potential (a 0-100%
scale describing a rank of fire potential being used by way of example, and
not limitation).
[00115] One or more techniques of estimating risk of exposure to fire for one
or
more regions of a geographic territory may include determining a first fire
risk rank for at
least one region of the one or more regions, perhaps for example based on one
or more
current atmospheric conditions corresponding to the at least one region. One
or more
techniques may include determining one or more fire characteristics of the at
least one
region. Perhaps, for example, there has been a historical pattern of fire that
occurs
approximately every 80 years in a similar general location either within an
area identified in
FIG. 10, or within a 5 mile radius of the area identified within FIG. 10. As
an additional
consideration to this analysis, perhaps the general civilian population and
amount of
infrastructure in the area identified within FIG. 10 was below current levels
in that area 80
years before. This is one limited example of a fire characteristic evolving
and creating a
differing level of exposure. Perhaps, for example, based at least on one image
of the at least
one region, it is known that the composition of structures (residential and
commercial) are
of a density and arrangement that when a plurality of such structures are
exposed to an
ember effect from a wildfire burning within a 5 mile radius of the area that,
given the
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firefighting resources available, the amount of exposure exceeds the
capabilities of the
firefighting resources.
[00116] One or more techniques may include determining a number of fire
suppression systems located in or near the at least one region, which may
provide
additional firefighting capabilities and thereby reduce the potential for
structure(s) loss.
One or more techniques may include determining one or more ember hazard
effects for the
at least one region based on at least one image captured after a (e.g.,
temporally) recent past
fire in or near the at least one region. For example, the image may comprise a
map image of
a fire perimeter from a recent past fire. Perhaps many of the structures
outside of these fire
perimeters were also burned. Local, state, and/or federal government data
identifies and
georeferences where structures burned in a fire. By overlaying the location of
the fire
perimeter on top of the location of where structures burned, a true
representation of the
ember effect of wildfires is created, and it is determined that burning embers
landed five
miles outside of the fire perimeter, threatening a population and quantity of
structures that is
far in excess of those contained within the fire perimeter. Correlating the
size of the fire to
the distance of ember travel and the subsequent exposure of civilian
populations and
structures based on the density and arrangement of those homes further define
the true
exposure of wildfire.
[00117] As a further example, analysis of the data usually reveals a
correlation
between population and the occurrence of fire incidents. This is a valuable
analysis of where fire
is likely to start based on population and historical fire events.
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[00118] One can further analyze the success of fire suppression efforts
based on
available infrastructure to actually reach a fire with human personnel, or
manmade
aircraft/vehicles to suppress a fire, and see a correlation between the
success of fire
suppression efforts based on access. The data may also be analyzed for
correlations based on
time of year, or weather events.
[00119] As another example, further analysis based on historical data of
square
footage/acres of combustible material (i.e., critical fire mass) to determine
the probability
of a fire if the area is not suppressed at a certain time of year (based on
historical weather
patterns), which allows a prediction of the size of civilian population and
structure population
that is threatened by fire.
[00120] By performing such analysis, in some embodiments as part of a search
query mechanism, and operating on top of a self-learning algorithm, there will
be increased
predictability of exposure to civilian populations, homes, and infrastructure,
and devices,
systems, and/or methods can be controlled to create civilian safety and
protection, inclusive
of infrastructure.
[00121] One or more techniques may include adjusting the first fire risk rank
to a
second fire risk rank, perhaps for example based on one or more of the number
of fire
suppression systems, the one or more ember hazard effects, and/or the one or
more fire
characteristics. One or more techniques may include determining an evacuation
condition
based on the second fire risk rank. One or more techniques may include
communicating the
evacuation condition to one or more recipients. The evacuation condition may
include
determining a second fire risk rank evacuation trigger threshold.
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[00122] One or more techniques may include determining a recently extinguished
fire
impact on at least one structure in or near the at least one region. One or
more techniques may
include performing a comparison of the recently extinguished fire impact on
the at least one
structure with the second fire risk rank. One or more techniques may include
determining a
predicted hazard assessment for the at least one structure based on the
comparison. For example,
little-to-no fire damage to a structure in or near a region with a high fire
risk rank may result in a
"low" or "abnormal" predicted hazard assessment (e.g., an assessment that
despite a
relatively high fire risk rank, the structure received little-to-no
actual/confirmed fire
damage). For example, significant-to-total damage to a structure in or near a
region with a
high fire risk rank may result in a "high" or "expected" predicted hazard
assessment (e.g., an
assessment that with a relatively high fire risk rank, the structure received
significant fire
damage, if not a complete loss). Stated somewhat differently, a predicted
hazard assessment
may be a measurement, an evaluation, and/or a comparison of a fire risk rank
(e.g., for a
structure and/or a region) to actual/confirmed fire damage (e.g. to the
structure and/or the
region).
[00123] Again by way of example, if a first region that had a relatively
low fire risk
rank experienced little-to-no fire damage, then the predicted hazard
assessment for a recent
fire in or near the first region might be one or more of "high", "expected",
"acceptable",
and/or "normal", and/or the like. Also by way of example, if a first structure
had a relatively
low fire risk rank and experienced significant-to-total damage, then the
predicted hazard
assessment for a recent fire in and/or near the first structure might be one
or more of "low",
"unexpected", "unacceptable", and/or "abnormal", and/or the like. One or more
techniques
may include communicating the predicted hazard assessment for the at least one
structure
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and/or region to an owner of the at least one structure, and/or to owners of
one or more
structures in the region, for example.
[00124] One or more techniques may include determining one or more
indicators
of a current fire in or near the at least one region from an internet-based
social media
system. For example, fires can move at such a rapid rate of spread that
satellite imagery or
infrared imagery can be too slow to keep up with identifying where fire
perimeters are
located, or where spotting occurs and new spot fires are burning. Various
social media
platforms, such as Twitter to name one non-limiting example, are places where
fire
information is rapidly shared by individuals. An algorithm may analyze such
social media
posts for references to fire and quickly compile a georeferenced map of
reported fires.
Additionally, a mobile device application may be distributed to the general
public that will
allow a user to easily report a fire using the application, perhaps with the
application
automatically georeferencing the reported fire using the GPS location of the
mobile device.
One or more techniques may include adjusting the second fire risk rank based
on the one or
more indicators.
[00125] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example computer (e.g., processing)
device
1104 (which may be incorporated near and/or within the control system 16
and/or near
and/or within the remote activation/access 76) wherein one or more of the
devices, methods,
and/or systems disclosed herein may be implemented, at least in part. In FIG.
11, the
computer device 1104 may include one or more of: a processor 1132, a
transceiver 1112, a
transmit/receive element (e.g., antenna) 1114, a speaker 1116, a microphone
1118, an audio
interface (e.g., earphone interface and/or audio cable receptacle) 1120, a
keypad/keyboard
1122, one or more input/output devices 1124, a display/touchpad/touch screen
1126, one or
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more sensor devices 1128, Global Positioning System (GPS)/location circuitry
1130, a
network interface 1134, a video interface 1136, a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Interface 1138,
an optical interface 1140, a wireless interface 1142, in-place (e.g., non-
removable) memory
1144, removable memory 1146, an in-place (e.g., removable or non-removable)
power
source 1148, and/or a power interface 1150 (e.g., power/data cable
receptacle). The
computing device 1104 may include one or more, or any sub-combination, of the
aforementioned elements.
[00126] The computing device 1104 may take the form of a laptop
computer, a
desktop computer, one or more circuit boards, a computer mainframe, a server,
a terminal, a
tablet, a smartphone, and/or a cloud-based computing device (e.g., at least
partially), and/or the
like.
[00127] The processor 1132 may be a general-purpose processor, a special-
purpose
processor, a conventional processor, a digital-signal processor (DSP), a
plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a
controller, a
microcontroller, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),
one or more
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated
circuit (IC),
and/or a finite-state machine, and/or the like. The processor 1132 may perform
signal coding,
data processing, power control, sensor control, interface control, video
control, audio control,
input/output processing, and/or any other functionality that enables the
computing device
1104 to serve as and/or perform as (e.g., at least partially) one or more of
the devices,
methods, and/or systems disclosed herein.
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[00128] The processor 1132 may be connected to the transceiver 1112,
which may
be connected to the transmit/receive element 1124. The processor 1132 and the
transceiver
1112 may operate as connected separate components (as shown). The processer
1132 and the
transceiver 1112 may be integrated together in an electronic package or chip
(not shown).
[00129] The transmit/receive element 1114 may be configured to transmit
signals
to, and/or receive signals from, one or more wireless transmit/receive sources
(not shown).
For example, the transmit/receive element 1114 may be an antenna configured to
transmit
and/or receive RF signals, cellular signals, or satellite signals. The
transmit/receive element
1114 may be an emitter/detector configured to transmit and/or receive IR, UV,
or visible light
signals, for example. The transmit/receive element 1114 may be configured to
transmit and/or
receive RF and/or light signals. The transmit/receive element 1114 may be
configured to transmit
and/or receive any combination of wireless signals.
[00130] Although the transmit/receive element 1114 is shown as a single
element,
the computing device 1104 may include any number of transmit/receive elements
1114 (e.g.,
the same as for any of the elements 1112-1150). The computing device 1104 may
employ
Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology. For example, the
computing device
1104 may include two or more transmit/receive elements 1114 for transmitting
and/or
receiving wireless signals.
[00131] The transceiver 1112 may be configured to modulate the signals that
are to
be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 1114 and/or to demodulate the
signals that are
received by the transmit/receive element 1114. The transceiver 1112 may
include multiple
transceivers for enabling the computing device 1104 to communicate via one or
more, or
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multiple, radio access technologies, such as Universal Terrestrial Radio
Access (UTRA),
Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), and/or IEEE 802.11, and/or satellite, for example.
[00132] The processor 1132 may be connected to, may receive user input
data
from, and/or may send (e.g., as output) user data to: the speaker 1116,
microphone 1118, the
keypad/keyboard 1122, and/or the display/touchpad/touchscreen 1126 (e.g., a
liquid crystal
display (LCD) display unit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display
unit, among
others). The processor 1132 may retrieve information/data from and/or store
information/data in, any type of suitable memory, such as the in-place memory
1144 and/or the
removable memory 1146. The in-place memory 1144 may include random-access
memory
(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory
devices,
and/or a hard disk, and/or any other type of memory storage device.
[00133] The removable memory 1146 may include a subscriber identity module
(SIM)
card, a portable hard drive, a memory stick, and/or a secure digital (SD)
memory card, and/or the
like. The processor 1132 may retrieve information/data from, and/or store
information/data in,
memory that might not be physically located on the computing device 1104, such
as on a server,
the cloud, and/or a home computer (not shown).
[00134] One or more of the elements 1112-1146 may receive power from the
in-
place power source 1148. In-place power source 1148 may be configured to
distribute and/or
control the power to one or more of the elements 1112-1146 of the computing
device 1104.
The in-place power source 1148 may be any suitable device for powering the
computing
device 1104. For example, the in-place power source 1148 may include one or
more dry cell
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batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal
hydride (NiMH),
lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), solar cells, and/or fuel cells, and/or the like.
[00135] Power interface 1150 may include a receptacle and/or a power
adapter
(e.g., transformer, regulator, and/or rectifier) that may receive externally
sourced power via
one or more AC and/or DC power cables, and/or via wireless power transmission.
Any
power received via power interface 1150 may energize one or more of the
elements 1112-
1146 of computing device 1104, perhaps for example exclusively or in parallel
with in-place
power source 1148. Any power received via power interface 1150 may be used to
charge
in-place power source 1148, such as a solar panel, a water micro-turbine, a
micro wind
turbine, a battery pack, or a generator.
[00136] The processor 1132 may be connected to the GPS/location
circuitry 1130,
which may be configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude
and/or latitude)
regarding the current location of the computing device 1104. The computing
device 1104
may acquire location information by way of any suitable location-determination
technique.
[00137] The processor 1132 may be connected to the one or more
input/output
devices 1124, which may include one or more software and/or hardware modules
that
provide additional features, functionality and/or wired and/or wireless
connectivity. For
example, the one or more input/output devices 1124 may include a digital
camera (e.g., for
photographs and/or video), a hands free headset, a digital music player, a
media player, a
frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, an Internet browser, and/or a video game
player
module, and/or the like.
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[00138] The processor 1132 may be connected to the one or more sensor devices
1128, which may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that
provide
additional features, functionality and/or wired and/or wireless connectivity.
For example, the
one or more sensor devices 1128 may include an accelerometer, an e-compass, a
vibration
device, a sonar, and/or the like.
[00139] The processor 1132 may be connected to the network interface 1134,
which may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provide
additional
features, functionality and/or wireless and/or wired connectivity. For
example, the
network interface 1134 may include a Network Interface Controller (NIC)
module, a Local
Area Network (LAN) module, an Ethernet module, a Physical Network Interface
(PNI) module,
and/or an IEEE 802 module, and/or the like.
[00140] The processor 1132 may be connected to the video interface 1136, which
may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provide
additional
features, functionality and/or wired and/or wireless connectivity. For
example, the video
interface 1136 may include a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
module, a
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) module, a Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA)
module,
and/or a Video Graphics Array (VGA) module, and/or the like.
[00141] The processor 1132 may be connected to the USB interface 1138,
which
may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provide
additional features,
functionality and/or wired and/or wireless connectivity. For example, the USB
interface 1138
may include a universal serial bus (USB) port, and/or the like.
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[00142] The processor 1132 may be connected to the optical interface
1140, which
may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provide
additional features,
functionality and/or wired and/or wireless connectivity. For example, the
optical interface
1140 may include a read/write Compact Disc module, a read/write Digital
Versatile Disc
(DVD) module, and/or a read/write Blu-rayTM disc module, and/or the like.
[00143] The processor 1132 may be connected to the wireless interface
1142,
which may include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provide
additional
features, functionality and/or wireless connectivity. For example, the
wireless interface 1142
may include a Bluetooth0 module, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) module, a ZigBee
module,
and/or a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) module, and/or the like.
[00144] In one or more techniques, device 1104, control system 16, and/or
remote
activation/access 76, at a remote location or otherwise, may (e.g.,
constantly) assess the fire
hazard risk of one or more, or each, structure and/or region, perhaps based on
the data (e.g,
as described herein) available to device 1104, control system 16, and/or
remote
activation/access 76. Device 1104, control system 16, and/or remote
activation/access 76
may be configured to determine which fire suppression system(s) to activate.
Device 1104,
control system 16, and/or remote activation/access 76 may be configured to
(e.g., remotely)
activate the determined fire suppression system(s). In one or more techniques,
such
activation may be automatic and/or may include supervisory input. For example,
based on
certain fire hazard risks, suppression system(s) may be activated upon
detection of a fire
burning within a certain radius of a system.
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[00145] While the present embodiments have been described in
terms of
several illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill that the spirit
and scope of the embodiments is not limited to those embodiments, but extend
to the various
modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.
