Fire Rover offering OnWatch prevention monitor

Ferndale, Michigan-based Fire Rover has introduced what it calls an early fire detection solution for landfills, adding to its fire detection and elimination product line.

The new product, OnWatch, is a remotely monitored, wireless early detection unit that uses a combination of thermal cameras and Fire Rover agents to detect and identify deep-seated fires, the company says.

“Landfill fires can be severe and can put facilities, equipment and workers at risk,” says Ryan Fogelman, a vice president with Fire Rover. “Keeping this in mind, we designed OnWatch to work not only for landfills but for outdoor piles, construction projects, wildfires, overflow tip floors, [composting] windrows and more.”

OnWatch is designed and made to withstand the harsh environments of landfills, says Fire Rover, including dust, wind and uneven surfaces. It is mobile, powered by both solar and wind, and uses 4G technology to communicate with Fire Rover agents.

The device is needed because some fires are not known to landfill operators until there is enough smoke to draw the attention of passersby, says the company. Such incidents can occur during off hours, weekends and holidays when crews are not there working the pile. If a fire is noticed during normal operating hours, an operator can add dirt or sand to the fire to cover or suffocate it.

When undetected fires burn both on the surface and deep into the pile, many issues can occur including landfill liner damage. While landfill liners are designed to be tough, too much fire, heat, suppressant agent and water can put the integrity of the liner at risk, Fire Rover says.

“At Fire Rover, our philosophy is the earlier you detect a fire, the better the outcome,” Fogelman says. "All of our solutions back that philosophy, including our thermal-only options, our boxless solution, our fire sprinkler replacement solution and now our OnWatch solution.”

He adds, “We’re learning more about the needs and wants of the industry, and we’re continuing to think outside the box and design proven solutions to combat the ongoing fire challenges the waste and recycling industry faces on a daily basis.”

A video promoting and demonstrating OnWatch can be found on this webpage.