A California-based company has developed a novel fire suppression technology that uses sound waves to extinguish flames, offering a potential new tool in combating wildfires and residential fires. Sonic Fire Tech, founded by former NASA engineers, has created a system that targets oxygen molecules with low-frequency sound waves, disrupting the chemical process that sustains fire.

The technology operates by vibrating oxygen molecules faster than they can be consumed by fuel, effectively breaking the combustion reaction. According to Remington Hotchkis, Chief Commercialization Officer at Sonic Fire Tech, the sound waves can halt a fire’s growth without harming people or pets. The acoustic waves have a range of up to 30 feet, which allows the system to cover an entire room or area when deployed through a home’s ductwork.

Recently, the San Bernardino County Fire Department tested a portable version of the equipment, worn as a backpack, in controlled scenarios. The device successfully extinguished small fires on vegetation and stove-top blazes, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world conditions.

Hotchkis, whose former home in Altadena was lost during last year’s Southern California wildfires, said that the devastating experiences of those fires motivated him to seek a new method for fire suppression. “Just to see the devastation that occurred on that community level while transformers were exploding and hoses were running out of water pressure, in that moment I was realizing there needs to be a different way we approach this,” he said.

Sonic Fire Tech envisions their technology being used not only for residential fire safety but also as a means to help control the spread of wildfires. The system could be activated automatically upon detecting a fire, deploying sound waves through a home’s ventilation system to snuff out flames early.

While the approach offers a promising alternative to traditional fire extinguishing methods, installation costs are notably higher. The company estimates the expense to be between 1% and 2% of a home’s value, which is significantly more than conventional kitchen fire extinguishers.

Fire officials and experts have yet to evaluate the technology’s scalability and efficiency in large-scale wildfire scenarios. However, early tests and demonstrations suggest it could become a valuable addition to fire prevention and mitigation strategies in fire-prone regions of California and beyond.