BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

As wildfires grow more frequent and destructive due to climate change, early detection is becoming more crucial than ever. But advanced systems like satellites and thermal imaging are often too expensive for many vulnerable regions. Enter Pyri: a new low-cost, environmentally friendly wildfire detector the size of a pinecone that may offer a game-changing solution.

Developed by a team of design engineering graduates in London, Pyri blends simplicity, sustainability, and science. It’s made primarily from wax and charcoal composites, which are materials that blend seamlessly into the natural environment and leave virtually no footprint. Once deployed in fire-prone areas, the sensors can sit undisturbed for years without maintenance. When exposed to fire, internal heat-sensitive triggers melt, releasing a low-frequency signal that alerts authorities.

“If you can catch a fire small, it’s a lot easier to put out,” said co-founder Karina Gunadi. “It can help people evacuate sooner, and it can stop fires from growing before they’re uncontrollable—before they’re really devastating.”

Nature as a blueprint

The inspiration for Pyri comes directly from nature. The name is derived from “pyriscence,” the scientific term for the ways some species adapt to fire. Pinecones from certain trees, for instance, only release their seeds after high heat melts the resin sealing them shut.

“What if we can be inspired by how nature already responds to fire?” Gunadi recalled. “Take that, use nature-based materials and create the simplest form of wildfire detection we can?”

Pyri’s ribbed, pinecone-like structure isn’t just symbolic— it’s practical. It protects the sensor from impact, especially when dropped from the air over difficult terrain. The team also wanted the devices to remain invisible to both people and wildlife. “We’ve actually lost one in the environment,” Gunadi said. “So in terms of camouflage, we’re doing maybe a little too well!”

Sustainable by design

Beyond camouflage, Pyri’s creators are committed to ensuring that their technology is safe for the environment. The team has avoided rare earth metals and lithium-ion batteries in favor of organic electronics. While the trigger technology remains confidential pending patent approval, the group is focused on ensuring that even when the devices burn, they won’t harm the surrounding ecosystem.

Gunadi emphasized the importance of leaving no trace: “We want to make sure that, even after doing their job, our sensors aren’t going to leave any negative impact on the environment.”

A personal mission

For the Pyri team, wildfire prevention isn’t just academic. Co-founder Richard Alexandre is from Brazil, where he saw the devastating fires in Pantanal firsthand. Gunadi, who grew up in Palo Alto, experienced the eerie aftermath of the 2020 North Complex Fire while living in San Francisco. “The sky was dark orange,” she remembered. “It was like that for days. That was really scary.”

The clock is ticking

Wildfires can spread at speeds of up to 14 miles per hour, making every moment critical. According to a 2020 study by the Australian National University, even a one-hour reduction in response time could reduce large fire frequency by 16 percent.

Other recent investments reflect this urgency. The Biden-Harris administration allocated $15 million for new fire weather observation systems, and Google pledged $13 million for its FireSat project, which will monitor wildfires via satellite.

Yet many under-resourced regions still lack access to high-tech tools. Pyri’s affordable and low-maintenance solution could fill that gap.

Competing in a growing field

Pyri isn’t alone in this space. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is testing ground-based wildfire detectors that “sniff” smoke or gas particles. N5 Sensors, for example, claims its detectors can spot ignition within five minutes, even from fires as small as a few square meters.

Pyri is also incorporating artificial intelligence to assess whether triggered alerts are truly fires, by combining sensor signals with real-time weather and satellite data.

Looking ahead

Pyri aims to offer its sensors as part of a per-kilometer subscription package, including installation and monitoring software. Though pricing is still under wraps, the team is targeting rates “half the cost of our nearest competitor.”

Initial customers may include forestry, agriculture, and utility sectors in the U.S., though interest has come from abroad. The startup recently won a James Dyson Award and plans to launch small-scale pilot tests this year, with a commercial rollout targeted for 2027.

As wildfires become an increasingly global threat, the need for accessible, sustainable solutions is urgent. Pyri’s compact, camouflaged sensor might just offer the head start communities need to protect lives and landscapes.