Fight fire with fire: Blaze Barrier launches ‘world’s first fire-line-in-a-box’

Homeowners can unroll the Blaze Barrier across a wildfire’s path; flames trigger explosions, spreading fire retardant to create a protective barrier.

The Blaze Barrier, a flame-activated fire line, offers a faster and easier alternative to digging fire trenches.

BLAZE BARRIER

Homeowners in areas at risk of brush fires, such as those in California, Australia, or the Mediterranean, now have a new potential ally in the fight against the flames. 

The Blaze Barrier, a flame-activated fire-retardant boundary line, offers a promising alternative to traditional fire trenches, which are labor-intensive and time-consuming to create. 

This innovative solution could potentially save precious time and labor in the face of an advancing fire, allowing firefighters to focus their efforts on other critical areas. 

“Our vision is to drastically improve wildfire defense and provide homeowners and firefighters with an effective, easy-to-use tool to combat the growing threat of wildfires,” says the Blaze Barrier.

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    Fire-line-in-a-box for easy wildfire defense

    Fire-line-in-a-box for easy wildfire defense

    The Blaze Barrier, aptly described as a 'fire-line-in-a-box,' is designed to be quickly deployed by homeowners themselves, empowering them to take proactive steps to protect their property. It's essentially a string of cardboard modules filled with a non-toxic fire retardant powder, making it safe for both humans and the environment. The product is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, aiming to bring this much-needed solution to market.
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    Inventor tackles wildfires with new solution

    Inventor tackles wildfires with new solution

    Jacob Schuler, a product designer and engineer based in Washington state, a region familiar with the devastating effects of wildfires, is the brains behind the Blaze Barrier. His invention addresses the critical need for faster and more efficient fire protection for homes threatened by wildfires, a problem that has become increasingly urgent due to climate change and the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
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    How it stops advancing fires

    How it stops advancing fires

    When a wildfire approaches, the homeowner simply stakes one end of the Blaze Barrier line and unrolls the rest across the fire's anticipated path, much like laying out a garden hose. The flames then ignite fuses on each module, triggering small explosions that disperse the fire retardant powder, creating a protective barrier that can help to stop the fire's advance. This mechanism allows for targeted and efficient use of the fire retardant, maximizing its effectiveness.
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    Rapid deployment for critical fire safety

    Rapid deployment for critical fire safety

    The entire deployment process for the Blaze Barrier is estimated to take less than a minute, a crucial advantage in situations where every second counts. It provides homeowners with a valuable tool for safeguarding their property before evacuating to safety, potentially increasing the chances of their homes surviving a wildfire. The ease of use also makes it accessible to a wide range of people, regardless of their physical abilities or experience with firefighting.
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    Eco-friendly firefighting with Blaze Barrier

    Eco-friendly firefighting with Blaze Barrier

    The fire retardant powder used in the Blaze Barrier is not only non-toxic but also biodegradable, ensuring that it doesn't pose a long-term threat to the environment. Once the fire threat has passed, the expended powder can be safely left on the ground to decompose naturally, minimizing the cleanup required after a wildfire. This eco-conscious approach is in line with the growing demand for sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
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    Reusable protection

    Reusable protection

    The Blaze Barrier's modules are specifically activated by flames, not just by heat. This means that if a fire doesn't reach the barrier, the entire system can be repackaged and stored for future use, providing homeowners with a reusable and cost-effective fire protection solution. This flexibility is particularly valuable in areas where wildfires are a recurring threat.
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    Blaze Barrier on Kickstarter

    Blaze Barrier on Kickstarter

    The Blaze Barrier is currently available for backing on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform that allows people to support innovative projects. Early bird pledges start at US$195 for a 50-foot kit, offering a significant discount compared to the planned retail price of $395. This presents an opportunity for those interested in wildfire preparedness to acquire the Blaze Barrier at a reduced cost while also supporting its development and production.
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Aman Tripathi