Researchers Use Infrasound Sensors to Track Low-Intensity Grassfire in Idaho

In a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers reported that a low-intensity grassland fire in Idaho emitted audible infrasound that could be tracked solely with acoustic sensors. More than 90 lightweight devices, each about the size of a paperback, were arranged in eight arrays across the burn area, allowing the team to triangulate the fire’s location and movement for several hours. The signal persisted after the ignition helicopter departed, confirming it originated from the fire itself.

While the approach may overcome visibility limitations of traditional detection, factors such as wind noise could limit its effectiveness, and applying it to uncontrolled wildfires poses logistical hurdles. The authors suggest future work could involve firefighter-installed systems, though current infrasound-based suppression technologies are unlikely to scale outdoors.