System and method for preventing the incidence of forest fires over large areas

• US 8,776,906 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Srirangapatnam A. Char
• Original Assignee: Srirangapatnam A. Char
• Inventors: Char, Srirangapatnam A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/425,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 169/43, 169/45, 169/46, 169/5, 169/16, 169/48, 169/56, 169/60, 169/61, 239/67, 239/69, 222/54, 700/283, 700/284, 340/521, 340/522, 340/540, 340/584, 340/588, 340/589, 340/601, 340/602
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0271 Detection of area conflagration fires fire alarms for forest fires G08B17/005
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0278 by creating zones devoid of flammable material

Abstract

A wildfire prevention system is described. The system includes a data measurement station for measuring environmental factors relevant for determining the likelihood of a wildfire in a prescribed area, a control station configured to receive data measured by the data measurement station and to determine the likelihood of a wildfire by comparison of the data received with predetermined data values representing likelihood of a wildfire, the predetermined data values including data values for each of the environmental factors individually and in combination with other environmental factors, and a moisture induction system including a water reservoir, configured for induction of moisture in the prescribed area on activation by the control station on the determination of the likelihood of a wildfire in the prescribed area. A method of preventing a wildfire is also described.

Claims

1. A wildfire prevention system comprising:

a data measurement station for measuring environmental factors relevant for determining the likelihood of a wildfire originating in a prescribed area;

a control station configured to receive data measured by the data measurement station and to determine the likelihood of a wildfire originating in the prescribed area by comparison of the data received with predetermined data values of the prescribed area stored in a database representing likelihood of a wildfire originating, wherein the predetermined data values of environmental factors or combination of environmental factors used for determining the likelihood of a wildfire in the prescribed area are set 10 to 20% below actual values at which the environmental factor or the combination of environmental factors are likely to cause wildfire;

a moisture induction system including a water reservoir, configured for induction of moisture in the prescribed area on activation by the control station on the determination that the likelihood of a wildfire originating in the prescribed area is greater than a predetermined threshold value; and

a wind deflector to prevent a wildfire due to strong winds;

wherein the system is configured to maintain the prescribed area in a state such that a wildfire is unlikely to originate in the prescribed area throughout a fire season by induction of moisture in the prescribed area during times when the determined likelihood of a wildfire originating is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

2. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environmental factors relevant for determining the likelihood of a wildfire originating in the prescribed area include soil moisture, relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, or wind direction.

3. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control station is configured to stop the induction of moisture in the prescribed area when the environmental factors measured by the data measurement station no longer indicate the likelihood of a wildfire originating in the prescribed area.

4. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moisture induction system comprises of a plurality of sprinklers connected to the water reservoir.

5. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control station is placed outside the prescribed area.

6. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control station is integrated with the data measurement station and placed in the prescribed area.

7. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wildfire prevention system comprises of surface drains to collect excess moisture induced by the moisture induction system, the surface drains configured to send the excess moisture back to the water reservoir.

8. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fire barrier.

9. A wildfire prevention system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fire barrier comprises a water barrier or a clay barrier.

10. A system for preventing wildfires over a large area, comprising:

at least one data measurement station for measuring environmental factors relevant for determining the likelihood of a wildfire originating in a prescribed area when no wildfire is present;

a control station configured to receive data measured by the at least one data measurement station and to determine the likelihood of a wildfire originating in the prescribed area by comparison of the data received with predetermined data values of the prescribed area stored in a database representing likelihood of a wildfire originating, wherein the predetermined data values of environmental factors or combination of environmental factors used for determining the likelihood of a wildfire in the prescribed area are set 10 to 20% below actual values at which the environmental factor or the combination of environmental factors are likely to cause wildfire;

a plurality of water reservoirs;

a sprinkler system connected to the water reservoirs and configured to induce moisture throughout the prescribed area, the sprinkler system configured to be activated by the control station on the determination that a wildfire is likely to originate in the prescribed area;

surface drains to collect excess moisture induced by the sprinkler system, the surface drains configured to send the excess moisture back to the water reservoirs; and

a wind deflector to prevent a wildfire due to strong winds;

wherein the system is configured to continuously maintain the prescribed area in a state such that a wildfire is unlikely to originate in the prescribed area.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system comprises at least 30 water reservoirs and the prescribed area comprises at least 20,000 acres.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each water reservoir has a capacity of at least one million gallons.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the water reservoirs is individually capable of inducing moisture over an area of 700 acres.