Sonic Fire Tech rolls out fire suppression system for residential wildfire defence

Fire suppression for homes without water

Sonic Fire Tech has announced the commercial rollout of its Sonic Home Defense system, a residential wildfire defence solution that uses infrasound technology and is designed to prevent ignition without water, chemicals or delay.

The company said the system is intended to detect and neutralise embers before they spark.

Sonic Fire Tech said the system uses low-frequency, inaudible sound waves.

The company said it has been named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards Honoree by the Consumer Technology Association for the system in the Smart Home product category.

Fire suppression approach focused on embers

Sonic Fire Tech said embers are the cause of over 90% of wildfire-related home ignitions.

The company said its Sonic Home Defense system provides protection “inside and out” without water, flooding or foam.

Sonic Fire Tech said the system aligns with Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) and California State Zone Zero Perimeter Defense guidelines for wildfire-prepared homes.

Installations underway in California communities

Sonic Fire Tech said its first installations are underway in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Lake Tahoe.

The company said it has received hundreds of homeowner requests for demonstrations.

Personal experience and commercialisation plans

Remington Hotchkis, Chief Commercialization Officer, said: “Wildfire danger isn’t abstract for me, it’s personal.

“When my former home in Altadena burned in the Los Angeles fires earlier this year, I saw firsthand that it wasn’t the wall of flame that destroyed homes, it was the embers.

“In that moment I realized that this part of the global wildfire crisis is solvable.”

Sonic Fire Tech said Hotchkis developed a commercialisation plan through an MIT entrepreneurship competition and later joined forces with Geoff Bruder and Sonic Fire Tech to bring the technology to homeowners in California.

Design, power resilience and app controls

Sonic Fire Tech said the system can be installed with concealed ducting through gutters or attics.

The company said the system is designed to operate off grid during power outages via backup batteries.

Sonic Fire Tech said homeowners can receive alerts and use remote control through the Sonic Alert App.

Industry and government comments on wildfire risk

Geoff Bruder, CEO and co-founder, said: “Across California, homeowners who live in fire zones face skyrocketing insurance costs, canceled policies, and stricter building codes.

“We’ve spent years in research, engineering, and field testing and now, we’re putting our part of the solution into action, making life safer for families, neighborhoods, and the first responders who protect them.”

Hayk Hovhannisyan, Senior Manager of Wildfire Risk Operations at PG&E, said: “Over the last couple of years, PG&E has built a portfolio of wildfire risk mitigation strategies, and we work closely with communities to solve these challenges.

“Technologies such as Sonic Fire Tech can help bridge the gap between detection and response.

“These technologies play a vital role in bringing cost-effective wildfire risk reduction solutions to homeowners.”

Ricardo Lara, California State Insurance Commissioner, said: “As insurance companies are retreating from the state, we’re at a critical point where the department has finally embraced technology.

“We can’t have innovators siloed, because we want to hear and know about your technology.

“We need to be at the forefront of this innovation.”

California demo events start in November

Sonic Fire Tech said community demo events begin in November across California.

The company said homeowners, homeowners’ associations and builders can sign up to reserve a live demonstration via its website.

What this means for wildfire protection planning

Fire and rescue leaders, emergency management teams and wildfire prevention coordinators may monitor how waterless, fixed residential systems are being positioned to reduce ember ignition risk at the property level.

Fire-protection contractors, system installers and building services engineers may assess how concealed ducting routes through gutters or attics affect survey work, installation sequencing and maintenance access.

Facility and community stakeholders, including homeowners’ associations and builders operating in California fire zones, may track how backup battery operation during power outages and app-based alerts are being packaged for residential use.

Insurance and risk professionals may note the public comments included in the announcement, alongside references to IBHS guidance and California State Zone Zero Perimeter Defense guidelines, when considering mitigation measures described for wildfire-prepared homes.