Irvine Plans Wildfire Sensor Network for Open-Space Preserve

Irvine plans to deploy a large-scale wildfire sensor network across the Irvine Open Space Preserve in early 2027, adding technology intended to detect ignitions sooner and assess fire risk near neighborhoods bordering the preserve.

The City of Irvine is partnering with SensoRy AI and Irvine Ranch Conservancy on the planned network. The city said the project is supported by funding from the California Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program in an announcement dated July 27, 2026.

What the planned network would do

The city describes two primary functions: detecting wildfire ignitions at an early stage and collecting environmental information that can be used to assess fire risk.

SensoRy AI says its system combines a wireless mesh sensor network with artificial-intelligence analysis. The company says the technology is intended to provide firefighters and emergency agencies with notifications and updates about fire conditions. The city says the project could be particularly useful during Santa Ana wind events, when fires may spread quickly near open-space areas and surrounding communities.

The network is intended to add information for fire departments and emergency agencies during wildfire response and prevention. It is not an evacuation-alert system and does not replace official emergency orders or instructions from public-safety agencies.

Project follows local testing with OCFA

The planned expansion follows test installations conducted by the city, SensoRy AI and the Orange County Fire Authority. Irvine said the test sensors detected wildfire ignitions and produced fire-risk data, describing their performance as better than anticipated.

In a February 11, 2025 announcement, SensoRy AI said an initial installation focused on high-risk areas within the Irvine Open Space Preserve and followed pilot work supported by Irvine Ranch Conservancy at its native seed farm and in the Irvine Ranch Open Space.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy has separately described SensoRy AI as a long-term partner in wildfire-detection pilots and permanent deployments in the Irvine Ranch Open Space. The conservancy also participates in Orange County Fire Watch with OC Parks, Irvine, Newport Beach and the Orange County Fire Authority.

What Irvine residents should expect

Residents living near the Irvine Open Space Preserve may eventually benefit from earlier wildfire information reaching firefighters and emergency managers. However, the city’s announcement describes the larger network as a planned early-2027 deployment. It is not yet a live citywide warning system.

The announcement does not establish a final sensor count, precise placement plan, operating budget or maintenance schedule. Those details should not be treated as settled unless they appear in later project records.

Until the network is deployed and its operating role is defined, residents should continue to rely on official emergency alerts, evacuation instructions and directions from fire and emergency-management agencies during wildfire threats.

Sources

• City of Irvine announcement on the planned wildfire-detection network
• SensoRy AI and OCFA Irvine Open Space Preserve deployment announcement
• Irvine Ranch Conservancy wildfire-awareness and prevention page