Design for Impact is a series spotlighting innovative solutions for communities affected by the climate crisis, natural disasters, and other humanitarian emergencies. In the multibillion-dollar global fight against wildfires, early detection is critical. Satellites, drones, thermal cameras, and manned lookout towers are among the tools currently used to alert authorities and first responders to imminent threats. However, in under-resourced areas, these defenses can be prohibitively expensive.
A group of recent design graduates has developed a smaller, simpler, and, they claim, cheaper solution: a pinecone-sized fire detector that could provide vulnerable communities an invaluable head start in the race to escape or contain major blazes. Known as Pyri, these sensors are crafted primarily from wax and charcoal composites, designed to blend seamlessly into their environment without leaving a footprint. According to its creators, the device can be deployed in fire-prone areas and left for years without maintenance. When a fire occurs, the heat melts an internal trigger, producing a low-frequency signal that raises the alarm.
“It can help people evacuate sooner, and it can stop fires from growing before they’re uncontrollable — before they’re really devastating,” Pyri co-founder Karina Gunadi told CNN in a video interview. “If you can catch a fire small, it’s a lot easier to put out.”
Origins and Inspiration
Pyri began as a college assignment in London among four design engineering students, three of whom decided to pursue it as a commercial venture beyond their graduation last year. The company’s name is derived from “pyriscence,” a scientific term describing how certain species adapt to wildfires. Gunadi and her fellow designers were inspired by fire-dependent species like certain pine trees, which require high heat to release their seeds.
“What if we can be inspired by how nature already responds to fire, take that, use nature-based materials and create the simplest form of wildfire detection we can?” Gunadi recalled, explaining the genesis of their design.
Design and Environmental Commitment
Pyri’s pinecone-like appearance is not just aesthetic but functional. The lightweight sensors’ shape and ribbed structure help protect them against impact, especially if deployed from the air to cover large or hard-to-reach areas. The designers also wanted them to remain inconspicuous to both humans and animals. “We’ve actually lost one in the environment. So, in terms of camouflage, we’re doing maybe a little too well!” Gunadi joked.
A significant challenge for the team has been their commitment to using non-toxic materials, especially for the electronics needed to produce a signal. While Pyri is not publicly detailing its trigger technology or disclosing its precise material composition due to a pending patent application, the designers have focused on organic electronics, avoiding rare earth metals and lithium-ion batteries. Gunadi emphasized the importance of ensuring the devices leave no negative environmental impact once they “burn up.”
The Growing Threat of Wildfires
Extreme wildfires are becoming more frequent globally, with fire seasons now longer, hotter, and drier than before. Climate change is a major contributor, as drought and rising global temperatures make the infernos bigger, faster, and harder to stop. This, in turn, may worsen the climate crisis.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), wildfires were responsible for an estimated 6,687 megatons of carbon dioxide pollution in 2023 — seven times more than was emitted by global aviation that year. UNEP predicts a 30% increase in extreme fires by the end of 2050 — and a 50% increase by the end of the century.
Major blazes are also occurring in places historically not considered fire-prone, from America’s eastern seaboard to Siberia, Russia. For Pyri’s creators, the impact of wildfires is personal. Co-founder Richard Alexandre is from Brazil, where he witnessed the devastation of forest fires in Pantanal. Gunadi, on the other hand, experienced the 2020 North Complex Fire in California, which engulfed San Francisco in smoke.
Early Detection and Technological Advances
Wildfires spread at speeds of up to 14 miles per hour, making every minute crucial. A 2020 study by the Australian National University found that reducing response time by one hour could decrease the frequency of large fires by 16%. Earlier this year, the outgoing Biden-Harris administration allocated $15 million to develop and deploy new fire weather observing systems in high-risk US locations.
Google has also announced $13 million for its FireSat initiative, which will use a constellation of satellites to track fires as small as 5 square meters using real-time images that refresh every 20 minutes. Pyri is not alone in developing ground-based sensor technology. The US Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has been researching new wildfire detectors since 2019, collaborating with small businesses like Maryland-based N5 Sensors.
Traditionally, sensors have relied on optical cameras or thermal imaging to “see” flames. However, new devices aim to “sniff” gases or solid particles in the air, with artificial intelligence algorithms refining detection capabilities.
Pyri’s designers are also incorporating AI: when a device is triggered, AI analyzes weather and satellite data to verify if the signal is indeed from a wildfire. The number of devices required in any area depends on the site’s geography, including topography and vegetation.
Looking Ahead
Pyri plans to offer a per-kilometer subscription package that includes sensors, installation, and monitoring software. Although Gunadi did not disclose future pricing, she mentioned aiming for fees “half the cost of our nearest competitor.” Pyri targets customers with fewer resources, such as forestry, agriculture, and utility sectors in the US, but has received global inquiries.
Since graduating, Pyri’s co-founders have focused on research and development and fundraising, including winning a £5,000 ($6,677) James Dyson Award. The company hopes to conduct small-scale tests and demonstrations later this year, with larger pilots planned for next year and a commercial launch in 2027.
About The Author




