Amid the chaos of war, with sirens blaring almost daily to warn of incoming rocket barrages, Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system worked tirelessly to track and intercept missiles, saving countless lives.
For Gadi Benjamini, the system’s effectiveness served as inspiration for a new kind of defense—this time against wildfires.
“In the fight against wildfires, you have firefighters as the infantry and aircraft as support, but flying at night or during strong winds is challenging,” explained Benjamini, co-founder and CEO of FireDome, in an interview with The Times of Israel.
“What we’ve developed is a kind of ‘artillery support’ for wildfire defense. Wildfires are one of the biggest challenges in climate tech, especially when it comes to response efforts. Many companies focus on detection, but we aim to enhance the capabilities of firefighters so they can handle multiple fires at once, including hard-to-reach areas.”
Founded in 2024 by Benjamini and Dr. Adi Naor Pomerantz, FireDome is developing a groundbreaking wildfire defense system modeled after the Iron Dome.
The system combines advanced defense strategies with AI technology to provide a two-layered approach to wildfire suppression.
When a wildfire is detected and a fire department issues an alert, the system’s first layer activates: a stationary mechanical launcher releases capsules that burst open before impact, dispersing eco-friendly fire retardant to create a protective barrier and halt the wildfire’s progression.
The second layer, powered by AI-driven computer vision and sensor technology, detects and extinguishes spot fires caused by embers that manage to breach the primary barrier.
This patent-pending, autonomous system is designed to extend the reach and effectiveness of firefighting efforts, even in the most logistically challenging situations.
