Power lines
In recent years, some of the world’s most devastating wildfires have been traced back to a single cause: faults in power lines.
From California to Australia to southern Europe, high-voltage transmission systems have sparked massive blazes, costing lives, destroying property, and accelerating climate damage.
In many cases, the issue isn’t sabotage or lightning — it’s overhead lines coming into contact with vegetation, faulty insulators, or damaged equipment dropping embers into dry ground.
Sebelo offers a new, sustainable way to monitor fire risks in power line corridors — using autonomous, solar-powered sensors for early outdoor smoke fire detection.
Power Lines & Wildfires: A Growing Global Concern
Here are just a few real-world examples:
California, USA – PG&E’s equipment caused several of the largest wildfires in state history, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people.
Portugal – Overgrown vegetation touching medium-voltage lines has repeatedly triggered wildfires in rural areas.
Australia – Hot, dry winds and sagging lines over eucalyptus forests have created ideal ignition conditions.
Despite regulatory reforms, the basic challenge remains: it’s almost impossible to inspect and monitor thousands of kilometers of remote infrastructure manually.
Sebelo’s Solution: Passive Monitoring That Works Anywhere
Sebelo provides a simple yet powerful system to monitor critical vegetation corridors, utility easements, and forest-adjacent lines for early signs of ignition.
What our sensors detect:
Smoke particles in the air
Rapid temperature increases
Sudden drops in humidity
Pressure anomalies
They are installed in key danger zones along the line — on poles, towers, or nearby trees — and operate fully off-grid using solar energy and supercapacitors.
No wires. No maintenance. No batteries to replace.
Where to Install
High-risk vegetation corridors near power lines
Utility company easements through forested land
Remote areas where visual inspection is infrequent
Wind-prone zones where power lines sway
Known problem sections with prior fire history
Sensors can be mounted every 500–1000 meters depending on terrain and vegetation density.
What You Need
1. LoRaWAN Gateway
– Provides coverage up to 10 km
– Connects via LTE SIM or existing wired network
– One gateway can serve multiple kilometers of power lines
2. Fire Detection Sensors
– Solar-powered, battery-free
– Weatherproof and built for outdoor infrastructure
– Cost-effective and scalable
🕒 Lifetime: up to 10 years
3. Monitoring Platform
– Real-time alerts (SMS/email/app)
– Live map of sensor activity
– Historical data to track dryness and ignition trends
Why This Matters
Legal liability – Utility companies are increasingly held responsible for fire damage caused by negligence.
Prevention is cheaper than suppression – early detection reduces firefighting costs dramatically.
Public trust – proactive monitoring shows commitment to community and environmental safety.
Infrastructure protection – fires can destroy the very assets (poles, transformers) that start them.
Sebelo offers a reliable, discreet, low-maintenance layer of defense.
Integration Possibilities
Combine with drone or satellite inspections
Share alerts with fire services and local authorities
Use sensor data to prioritize vegetation clearing
Let’s Make Power Lines Safer
Whether you're a utility operator, municipality, forest service, or landowner with power infrastructure nearby — early warning is now possible.
Sebelo makes it affordable, scalable, and sustainable.
👉 Contact us to design a monitoring plan that protects your lines and the communities around them.
