Mount Wildfire Sensors

Mount Wildfire Sensors using treenails or garden wire, then let them calibrate for 14 days before they are ready to detect fires.

Mount using treenails (long term)

Treenails are wooden pegs used to securely mount sensors to a tree. As they are made from wood, they do not affect the health of the tree. Over time the tree's moisture causes the treenails to expand which securely attaches the sensor to the tree.

Drill a 10 mm hole into the tree 3 m from the forest floor on the side of the tree where sunlight would strike the tree at 12:00 noon. The treenails are fed through a loop in the sensor and a spacer and then hammered into the tree.

1. With the help of an assistant, stabilize the ladder against the tree.

2. Locate the correct height (3 m) and direction (facing sun at 12:00 noon).

3. Carefully remove a small portion of the bark with an axe at that location. Try not to excessively damage the tree.

Clear a small area of bark, if required

1. Carefully drill a hole approximately 6-7 cm into the tree using the 10mm drill bit. Do not drill deeper than this recommended depth to prevent unnecessary damage to the tree.

When drilling into a hardwood tree, start with a smaller drill bit to drill a pilot hole then drill with the 10mm drill bit to complete the drill hole. Ensure you are using a drill bit for wood.

Drill a small hole 6cm - 7cm into tree

1. Insert a treenail through the sensor's loop, slip a spacer onto the treenail and then carefully hammer the treenail into the hole. Ensure the treenail is not damaged by the hammering.

Carefully hammer treenail (with spacer) into tree

1. Ensure the sensor is securely deployed to the tree and hanging loosely and vertically.

Mounted Wildfire Sensor

Mount sensors using garden wire (temporary only)

Sensors can be mounted using garden wire for short term installations. Garden wire is typically used in agricultural and garden settings such as greenhouses. This solution should only be used for a limited time as the wire will eventually interfere with growth in the tree's girth.

1. With the help of an assistant, stabilize the ladder against the tree.

2. Locate the correct height (3 m) and direction (facing sun at 12:00 noon).

3. Cut a length of garden wire twice as long than the circumference of the tree.

4. Insert garden wire through the spacer and sensor as shown below.

Garden wire looped and prepared to attach to tree

1. Tighten the garden wire around the tree. Ensure it is securely attached and that the sensor cannot slip or move.

Mounted Wildfire Sensor

Next steps

Allow the Wildfire Sensor to calibrate for 14 days.

See also

For details, see Sensor Calibration.