Last weekend, a consortium of students from Laguna Beach High School and Corona del Mar High School joined forces with young climate activist and inventor, Ryan Honary, to conduct field-testing of his groundbreaking wildfire detection technology. This innovative system harnesses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and remote sensors to detect and forecast the spread of wildfires in a manner that is both efficient and cost-effective. The group, comprised of Tyler Tafreshi, Mateen and Darian Najafi, Ben Smith, Dutch McClellan, and Rustin Motakef, collaborated with Honary to deploy and activate the AI-driven sensor network at Moulton Meadows Park.
The Orange County Fire Authority is currently in discussions with Honary regarding the implementation of his technology at a county level, and Laguna Beach is poised to do the same. The potential impact of this collaboration became apparent as the students, under Honary’s guidance, strategically established “mini meteorological stations” and sensors across a 350-yard area to ensure optimal connectivity. The initiative was commended by the Laguna Beach Fire Department, which identified the location as a prime candidate for the deployment of this innovative technology. If successful, the collaboration will result in a fire perimeter extending from Moulton Meadows to the Alta Laguna fire station, significantly enhancing the city’s wildfire prevention and response capabilities.
Despite being just a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School, Honary has already established himself as a prodigious engineer, a successful entrepreneur, and a dedicated environmental advocate. His passion for environmental engineering was ignited in the aftermath of the catastrophic Camp Fire in 2018, which led to the destruction of Paradise, a town in Northern California. Honary is motivated by a desire to inspire his peers to pursue opportunities in STEM fields and is optimistic that his pioneering work will encourage other young people to consider careers in environmental engineering.
The Laguna Beach High School community has been deeply inspired by Honary’s work, particularly the Climate Solutions Society led by student Tyler Tafreshi. This school-based club is eager to contribute to the implementation of Honary’s wildfire detection technology in the near future. Those interested in learning more about Ryan Honary and his remarkable achievements are encouraged to visit his website at ryanhonary.com or connect with him on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter or Facebook by searching @RyanHonary.