ABOUT WILDFIRE ALERT: OUTCOMES

Website Usage | Survey Results | How-To Manual

2007 Website Usage Data



Summary by Month
Month Daily Avg Monthly Totals
Hits Files Pages Visits Sites KBytes Visits Pages Files Hits
Dec 2007 866 809 689 36 123 19561 108 2069 2429 2599
Nov 2007 2059 1934 1636 91 1400 338011 2741 49084 58025 61790
Oct 2007 17494 15445 9928 605 17046 15390925 18772 307788 478822 542333
Sep 2007 2183 2031 1709 66 963 545787 2006 51284 60949 65502
Aug 2007 1810 1704 1479 57 892 446210 1768 45876 52842 56139
Jul 2007 3969 3708 3270 112 1229 654905 3485 101385 114970 123052
Jun 2007 6184 5885 5091 139 1714 1037507 4175 152754 176569 185549
May 2007 1284 1192 950 81 1282 454362 2540 29466 36961 39815
Apr 2007 1080 970 711 80 1025 286079 2416 21340 29108 32422
Mar 2007 999 888 663 75 1231 627036 2352 20577 27548 30980
Feb 2007 688 613 445 70 1258 376749 1985 12478 17182 19272
Jan 2007 1098 991 789 87 1399 331675 2719 24474 30733 34040
Totals 20508807 45067 818575 1086138 1193493

Preliminary Survey Results

The project included a survey of the residents of Fallbrook community to assess their preparedness for wildfire emergencies and the impact of this website on their preparedness. Telephone surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2007. Each time, a parallel survey was conducted in Valley Center so that we may have a basis for comparison. In 2005, 400 interviews were completed with Fallbrook residents. In 2007, 140 of the original 400 interviewees were successfully re-interviewed. An additional 264 interviews were completed in 2007.

Despite many outreach efforts by the project staff and partner organizations, only a small fraction of Fallbrook residents were aware of the project. Only 7.1% had heard of the WildfireAlert website and only 1.3% had used it. Similar results were found at Valley Center. On the bright side, a large majority (68%) of Fallbrook residents were aware of ways to make their homes safer from wildfires, and a great majority (85%) had actually cleared away vegetation and brush around their houses. The numbers were similar with those in Valley Center, despite the fact that Fallbrook residents felt far less threatened by wildfires than Valley Center residents (61% vs. 26%).

Project staff is working on a detailed analysis of the survey results and will publish the results shortly.

How-To Manual for Installing Your Own Fire Sensors

Here we provide an outline for setting up your own wildfire sensors, based on our experience in this project.

Ambient FireAlert

The primary fire sensor used in this project was Ambient FireALERT. These sensors are designed and produced by Ambient Control Systems, Inc., in El Cajon, CA. The sensor detects fire by analyzing the flicker of infrared waves generated by hot fires. A rotating "eye" scans the horizon in 10-degree increments, with +/-22.5 degree of vertical field of view. Ambient's proprietary pattern recognition algorithms analyze the infrared light captured by the imager and differentiate the fire "signature" from other phenomena. If the sensor detects a fire it transmits and alert message. The sensor is powered by solary energy and is designed to run for 20 years. Approximate cost of a FireAlert is $10,000 each.

In Ambient Control Systems' laboratory tests, the sensors were able to detect a 4'x4' fire from 1/4 mile away. We conducted multiple field tests at the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve in collaboration with Ambient Control Systems, during which Ambient Control Systems personnel continually improved the sensitivity of the sensors while limiting false positive detections. In our field tests, the sensor range appeared to be closer to 1/8 mile. We therefore consider it suitable for detecting small landscape features -- such as canyons, pastures, hillsides -- and buildings, rather than large expanses of wildland.

FireAlert fire sensor unit is designed to be mounted on a 4" diameter mounting pole. A 10' tall fiberglass mounting pole may be purchased through Ambient Control Systems. FireAlert sensors must be placed where there is direct line-of-sight to potentially flammable areas. It cannot see through opaque surfaces. Glass can greatly decrease sensitivity. FireAlert sensor must also have direct sunlight, in order for its solar power system to charge adequately. In our tests FireAlert sensors placed in areas with shortened exposure to daylight (such as in deep canyons) had frequent power supply problems.

FireAlert sensors deployed at the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve were equipped with 900 Mhz MaxStream radio transmitters. The radio signals were received by MaxStream modems, which then transmitted the messages via the Internet to a computer. Ambient Control Systems can equip the sensors with satellite radios and provides a web-display of the data as a service. 900 Mhz radio link is a lower-cost option, but has greater limitations in deploying in hard-to-reach places. The use of 900 Mhz antennas can improve connectivity from the sensor to the receiving radio-modem. Ambient Control Systems also provides hardware for FireAlert sensors to activate fire retardant systems.

Fire Scout X3

The project also had an opporunity to test another fire sensor, the Fire Scout X3. The X3 has a far simpler design and a lower cost (approximately $250 each). The unit runs on AA batteries and a small solar panel. System longevity is unknown. The unit uses an ultraviolet sensor, which has a 180-degree field of view but sensitivity is degraded away towards the edges. In our tests, the X3 was able to detect an 8'x8' bonfire from 1/4 mile away when the sensor directly faced the fire. Fire Scount, Inc., sells a mechanism for activating fire retardant systems.

The X3 can be mounted on surfaces using velcro or tape, and connected to an audible alarm or fire retardant systems via wires.