As global warming takes its toll, the risk of wildfires continues to increase dramatically. Monitoring carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and airborne particulate matter can provide early warnings of dangerous forest fires. Firefighters use these gas detectors to keep themselves safe and prevent fires from spreading too far. In addition, these devices are essential to protect occupants from accidental forest fires and toxic gas buildup.
Pros
Gas detectors help protect homeowners from unexpected forest fires.
Firefighters use CO, CO2, and particulate detectors to provide early warning of wildfire smoke.
Which Gas Detectors May Help During a Wildfire?
Portable Gas Detector
Our portable gas detector with a large LCD. It can monitor CO, H2S, O2 and combustible gas simultaneously. The instrument with audio/visual and vibratory indicators, rechargeable battery, and simple use. It is widely used in the area where explosion-proof is required or toxic gas leaks, like underground channels or mining industry, so as to protect the workers’ life and avoid damage on the relevant equipments.
PM2.5 sensor
PM2.5 sensors can be used in a variety of different situations. It can be used for outdoor meteorological environment monitoring. It can be used with other gas sensors to monitor industrial waste gas. It is installed in indoor areas such as libraries, warehouses, supermarkets and office buildings to detect the concentration of particulate matter. It can also be used in greenhouse farming and animal husbandry.
What Gases Can Be Found During a Wildfire?
Forest fires also release substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, and other particulate matter into the atmosphere. When trees and other plants burn, the stored carbon is released into the environment as a gas.
Is Wildfire Smoke Bad For Me?
Yes, it is bad.
Wildfire emissions contains smoke and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). In addition, it also contains a cocktail of toxic gases. These include aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins.
Wildfire smoke can cause many symptoms such as an irritated throat, cough, headache, stinging eyes, and runny nose. These health issues are the result of small particles infiltrating the respiratory system.
Wildfire smoke can worsen preexisting conditions such as lung disease or asthma.
Is It Safe to Go Outside In Wildfire Smoke?
Avoid inhaling wildfire smoke.
However, this is not always possible if you need to leave the home for school, work, errands, or other reasons. Healthy individuals can typically go outside without extreme symptoms. Children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions are more susceptible to smoke and should stay indoors.
How Far Does Wildfire Smoke Spread?
Smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of miles depending on the size of the wildfire, wind conditions, and how high the smoke rises. Smoke from smaller forest fires cannot rise as high and will typically only affect the surrounding areas. However, powerful wildfires can push smoke up into the stratosphere and travel across the globe.
In the summer of 2021, record-breaking wildfires in Russia caused smoke to travel over 2,000 miles. This was the first recorded instance that forest fire smoke reached the North Pole.
Below is a image of smoke traveling across the USA from a California wildfire.
Which Sensors Are Used to Detect Forest Fire?
Sensor technology is an important tool in detecting forest fires by monitoring pressure, humidity, temperature, and chemical parameters. In particular, particulate, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) sensors are important for detecting wildfire smoke. This is because of the high amounts of carbon byproducts produced in burning plant matter. Wildfire smoke contains many fine particles which can be monitored using a particulate matter detector.
What Does a PM2.5 Meter Detect?
Just like a smoke alarm, a particulate detector detects airborne particulates with extreme sensitivity. These devices provide earlier warning to particles that can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream. Particulate matter (PM) refers to any smoke, particulates, or dust that might be suspended in the air.
Detecting PM is an excellent indicator for indoor air quality as a result of the outdoor environment. This can be seen in areas where wildfire smoke contributes to poor air quality.