Articles tagged with "fire-safety"
Heat-proof 'FireDrone' uses aerogel armor to withstand 392°F infernos
The FireDrone, developed by Swiss researchers at Empa and refined by a spin-off from EPFL, is an innovative drone designed to operate safely inside burning buildings with temperatures up to 392°F (200°C). Its key advancement is a one-piece protective shell made from high-temperature polyimide aerogel, which provides exceptional thermal insulation while maintaining mechanical flexibility and durability. This aerogel armor encases the drone’s sensitive electronics, allowing it to withstand extreme heat that would typically deform conventional drones and cause electronic failures at around 104°F (40°C). The drone also incorporates active internal temperature management to continuously cool and monitor its systems during flight. Equipped with an infrared camera, the FireDrone transmits live thermal images to firefighters outside hazardous zones, enabling incident commanders to assess dangerous environments before sending personnel inside. It can also be fitted with additional sensors to detect gases or measure external temperatures. Designed specifically for indoor use in environments where GPS is unavailable—such as buildings, tunnels, and industrial facilities—the
robotdrone-technologyaerogel-insulationheat-resistant-materialsfire-safetythermal-protectionhigh-temperature-operationRockstar Games responds after explosion raises GTA 6 delay questions
On Monday morning, a boiler explosion occurred at Rockstar Games' Edinburgh studio, prompting emergency services to respond and secure the building due to structural concerns. Firefighters arrived shortly after 5 a.m., assessed the situation, and remained on site for over four hours before clearing the area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Rockstar Games confirmed that the incident involved a heating boiler malfunction and assured that the studio reopened the same day with operations continuing unaffected. The incident sparked concerns among fans about potential delays to the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, as the Edinburgh studio is the primary development hub for the franchise. Despite these worries and recent internal challenges—including employee protests over layoffs—Rockstar has stated there will be no impact on the game's production timeline. The company thanked emergency responders and emphasized that development is proceeding as planned, with no announced changes to the GTA 6 release schedule.
energyboiler-explosionemergency-responsestructural-safetyheating-systemsindustrial-accidentfire-safetyPet-saving smoke detector with strobe light debuts at CES 2026
Rescue Retriever, a startup founded by firefighter Rusty Tussing, has introduced a paw-shaped smoke detector at CES 2026 designed specifically to help firefighters locate pets during house fires. Unlike traditional smoke alarms that emit sound and are ceiling-mounted, Rescue Retriever is placed where pets typically stay—such as dog crates or hiding spots for cats—and activates a silent, bright strobe light when smoke is detected. This visual signal guides firefighters directly to pets in smoky conditions. Additionally, the product includes an exterior sticker indicating the number of pets inside and the presence of the device, alerting first responders before they enter the home. Tussing emphasizes that Rescue Retriever is not a replacement for standard smoke detectors but a complementary tool focused on pet search and rescue. Looking ahead, Rescue Retriever plans to enhance its technology with connected features, including a collar tag equipped with GPS or Apple AirTag functionality and a companion app. The app aims to alert owners during fires, show pet locations, and potentially monitor pet health data.
IoTsmart-smoke-detectorpet-safetyrescue-technologyfire-safetyconnected-devicesemergency-alert-systemHow faulty fire barriers helped flames race up the Hong Kong tower
The deadly fire that swept through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po on November 27, 2025, was exacerbated by faulty fire barriers and highly flammable materials used during ongoing renovations. The blaze, which began around 2:51 pm and rapidly spread across multiple 31-storey towers covered in bamboo scaffolding, green construction netting, and plastic sheets, resulted in at least 55 deaths, marking Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in over six decades. The bamboo scaffolding, combined with non-fireproof nets and Styrofoam-sealed windows, created a "chimney effect" that accelerated the fire’s upward and outward spread, allowing flames to leap between buildings in a rare and devastating manner. Investigations revealed that the renovation company responsible for the site used foam materials and tarpaulins that did not meet fire safety standards, with Styrofoam boards fixed to windows identified as particularly flammable. Police arrested three men, including two company directors and an
materialsfire-safetybuilding-materialsconstruction-materialsfire-barriersrenovation-materialsfire-investigationBurnBot can help US fight wildfires with safer, prescribed burns
BurnBot is an innovative technology developed to improve prescribed burns in California, aiming to address the state's escalating wildfire crisis. Unlike traditional methods such as hand-firing, which are slow, labor-intensive, and constrained by weather and safety concerns, BurnBot offers a remotely operated precision blackline machine that completes burns three to four times faster with high accuracy. The BurnBot RX2 model operates effectively in challenging conditions—including high humidity, light rain, and winds up to 20 mph—and can safely create blacklines near structures, power lines, and on uneven terrain. It requires fewer personnel, produces minimal smoke and embers, and logs GPS, weather, and performance data automatically for comprehensive digital burn reports. Operated remotely by trained personnel, typically former firefighters, BurnBot RX2 functions similarly to an ice resurfacer, laying pre-burned paths to define burn boundaries and regulating fire parameters via propane torches. Its design includes features like steel rollers to tamp embers and a light water spray to extinguish
robotwildfire-managementautonomous-technologyprescribed-burnsenvironmental-technologyremote-operationfire-safetyIs An Electric Bus A Fire Risk - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica addresses recent misinformation and fearmongering surrounding the safety of electric buses following a fatal collision in New Zealand. A petrol Subaru crashed head-on into an Auckland electric bus, which caught fire, resulting in the bus driver's death and injuries to the car occupants. Despite the bus being engulfed in flames, investigations by the bus operator and Auckland’s Fire and Emergency Department confirmed that the fire originated in the petrol car’s engine, and the electric bus’s batteries remained undamaged. Auckland city councillor Richard Hills condemned the spread of anti-EV propaganda and reassured the public that electric buses are safe, highlighting that fire safety systems are integrated into EV battery design. The article emphasizes that data from multiple countries consistently show electric vehicles are less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel vehicles. Councillor Hills noted that fires in diesel vehicles are relatively common but do not provoke calls for bans, contrasting this with the disproportionate fear directed at electric buses. The article criticizes the spread of misinformation
energyelectric-vehicleselectric-busesbattery-safetyfire-safetyemissions-reductionpublic-transportationMass Timber & Fire Safety: What The Evidence Shows - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines the fire safety of mass timber, highlighting its growing use due to advantages like lighter weight, faster assembly, and carbon storage compared to concrete and steel. A key concern for stakeholders—developers, insurers, and regulators—is whether mass timber can withstand fire as effectively as traditional materials. The article explains that mass timber behaves differently in fire: thick timber members form a protective char layer that insulates the core, slowing heat spread and preserving structural integrity. Unlike steel, which loses strength rapidly at high temperatures, or concrete, which can spall and expose reinforcing steel, mass timber fails gradually and predictably, allowing designers to size components to maintain load-bearing capacity during fire exposure. Fire testing supports these findings, with mass timber assemblies routinely achieving 1-2 hour fire ratings and sometimes longer. Full-scale compartment burn tests in North America and Europe have shown that mass timber structures can survive intense fires without collapse, with fires often self-extinguishing after consuming room contents. The National
materialsmass-timberfire-safetycross-laminated-timbersustainable-building-materialscarbon-storageconstruction-materialsAustria's EV battery case made with cork, wood beats Tesla in fire test
Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria have developed an innovative electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosure that combines thin sheet steel filled with wood, offering a safer and more sustainable alternative to the aluminum cases used by Tesla. Led by Florian Feist, the team created this hybrid structure as part of the Bio!Lib project, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of battery production while enhancing crash safety. The wood core’s cellular structure absorbs energy during crashes, and the steel-wood composite underbody and lid, reinforced with rib-like cross struts, demonstrated crash performance comparable to Tesla’s Model S aluminum battery case in pole crash tests. To improve fire resistance, the researchers incorporated cork as an insulating layer, which chars under extreme heat, reducing thermal conductivity and protecting the vehicle’s interior. In pyrotechnic tests simulating battery fires exceeding 2,372°F (1,300°C), the cork-insulated Bio!Lib enclosure maintained structural integrity and kept the temperature on the protected side about
energyelectric-vehiclesbattery-enclosurefire-safetysustainable-materialswood-steel-compositecork-insulationNew lithium battery suppresses fire with built-in safety system
Researchers at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a lithium metal battery prototype with a built-in flame suppressant to address the fire risks associated with lithium metal batteries. These batteries offer significantly higher energy storage—up to ten times that of conventional lithium-ion cells—making them attractive for electric vehicles and portable electronics. However, their lithium metal anodes and nickel-rich oxide cathodes can generate flammable gases that may cause overheating and explosions. The new design incorporates a polymer into the cathode that remains stable under normal conditions but releases fire-inhibiting radicals when temperatures exceed 100 °C, suppressing the chemical reactions that produce flammable gases. Testing showed that while a standard lithium metal battery overheated to 1,000 °C and ignited within 13 minutes at elevated temperatures, the prototype only reached 220 °C and did not catch fire or explode. This smart flame-retardant system enhances both thermal safety and electrochemical stability, potentially transforming lithium metal batteries into safer options
energylithium-batteriesfire-safetyflame-retardant-polymerenergy-storageelectric-vehiclesbattery-technologyWorld-first open-door large-scale fire test completed on China battery
Hithium has completed a groundbreaking large-scale open-door fire test on its battery energy storage system (BESS), demonstrating exceptional fire safety performance under extreme conditions. The test, conducted by UL Solutions and witnessed by certified U.S. fire protection engineers, adhered to stringent UL 9540A and NFPA 855 safety standards. Key challenges included fully open container doors to allow unrestrained combustion, minimal 15cm spacing between units, deactivation of all fire suppression systems, and testing at 100% state of charge. Despite 15 hours of intense combustion with flames exceeding 1300°C, the system’s multi-layered passive fire protection and thermal isolation prevented fire propagation to adjacent containers and maintained structural integrity. This successful trial highlights Hithium’s autonomous fire resistance capabilities without relying on active suppression, validating the robustness of its passive safety architecture. Industry experts have praised the test as a significant advancement in energy storage fire safety, providing a replicable and practical framework for future safety standards. H
energybattery-energy-storage-systemfire-safetythermal-runawaypassive-fire-protectionUL-9540Aenergy-storage-testingWood Pellet Mills Are Prone to Catching Fire. Why Build Them in California?
The article highlights the inherent fire risks associated with wood pellet mills, which produce highly flammable compressed wood products used for heating and grilling. Since 2010, at least 52 fires have occurred at such facilities across the US, with many of the largest mills experiencing fires or explosions. The biomass company Drax, a major player in the industry, has a history of fire-related incidents at its facilities in the UK and Louisiana. Despite these safety concerns and ongoing lawsuits, Drax is moving forward with plans to build two new pellet mills in California, through its partner Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR), claiming that their operations will help mitigate wildfire risks by utilizing dead or dying trees from nearby forests. The proposed mills in Tuolumne and Lassen counties, both forested and wildfire-prone areas, have sparked opposition from local residents and experts who question the safety and environmental impact of manufacturing wood pellets in these regions. Concerns include inadequate communication with nearby communities, potential overharvesting of biomass by
energybiomass-energywood-pelletsfire-safetyrenewable-energywildfire-mitigationsustainable-materials