Sonic Fire Tech’s Inaudible Acoustic System Could Revolutionize Home Protection Without Water or Sprinklers
A Silent Revolution in Fire Suppression
A technology once seen as a viral novelty is now being refined into a serious tool for wildfire defense. Sonic Fire Tech, a startup backed by $3.5 million in seed funding from Khosla Ventures and Third Sphere, has developed a system that uses inaudible sound waves—called infrasound—to suppress flames.
- The idea builds on a concept explored by DARPA in 2012 and other researchers.
- Earlier attempts, including one by college students using subwoofers, proved fire could be extinguished with sound.
- Sonic Fire Tech claims it has now engineered a scalable, safe, and effective version of the tech.
The Science Behind the Sound
Sonic Fire Tech’s breakthrough lies in its custom-built infrasound generator, which uses a reciprocating piston driven by an electric motor and crankshaft—a system somewhat reminiscent of a car engine.
- It produces infrasound at sub-20 Hz frequencies, which are imperceptible to human ears.
- These low frequencies disrupt combustion without damaging hearing or nearby structures.
- Current prototypes can extinguish flames up to 25 feet away, with larger systems targeting 330 feet.
While scientists debate the exact mechanism—whether it’s oxygen displacement, pressure oscillation, or flame destabilization—the consistent real-world results speak volumes.
How the Home System Works
Sonic Fire Tech’s home protection system uses ducted infrasound delivery mounted in key fire-prone areas:
- On the roof’s ridge, ducts aim sound downward, targeting debris-prone gutters.
- Under eaves, they fire toward the ground, suppressing ground-level flame spread.
- Flame sensors automatically activate the system when fire is detected.
The setup requires about 500 watts of electricity and will include battery backup using lead-acid batteries, making it functional even during power outages—a critical consideration during wildfires.
Why It Matters: Waterless Fire Defense
Traditional sprinkler systems rely on abundant water, which is often scarce in wildfire-prone regions.
- Sonic Fire Tech’s solution offers a waterless, self-contained alternative.
- It’s designed to cost about 2% of a home’s value, aiming to make it financially viable for homeowners.
- The company is in talks with insurance providers to qualify its tech for fire protection discounts.
With wildfire-related damages in the U.S. reaching $424 billion annually, and home insurance in crisis across much of California, demand for scalable fire defense systems is reaching a tipping point.
From Driveway Demo to Market Readiness
The startup’s story started in a driveway, with co-founder Geoff Bruder, formerly of NASA, using car parts and a subwoofer to knock down a fire from seven feet away.
- The original speaker model was scrapped in favor of a completely new design to avoid damaging human hearing.
- Sonic Fire Tech is now preparing to install and demo its system on homes through partnerships with PG&E and Southern California Edison.
- It has also signed a letter of intent with a chemical storage facility, expanding its use cases beyond residential defense.
Looking ahead, the company envisions certification as a sprinkler system replacement, potentially opening the door to indoor fire protection via ducted infrasound.
Final Thoughts: A Quiet Game-Changer
Sonic Fire Tech’s infrasound-based system could be a game-changer in wildfire defense, especially in dry, high-risk regions where water is limited and the stakes are rising.
By turning silent sound waves into a force against flames, this innovation promises low-maintenance, high-impact protection that could change how we think about fire prevention.
