TRUCKEE, Calif. — In the early hours of July 16, 2025, smoke drifted quietly down the Bear River drainage near Grass Valley. Before fire crews were even dispatched, the community was already taking action, alerted by sensors and a wildfire app.

A year earlier, Truckee Firewise leader and KNOW Wildfire founder Heather Dawson had introduced N5SHIELD, a wildfire and smoke detection system paired with a community app, tools that proved crucial in the swift response.

The N5SHIELD units were strategically installed in collaboration with the fire district across the You Bet region. Linked with her KNOW Wildfire app, the system detected smoke at its earliest stages and sent instant alerts directly to residents.

Within hours on July 16, thanks to vigilant neighbors and first responders, the Lowell Fire was contained at just two acres.

Dawson believes information is the most important tool a community can have in responding to wildfires. She says the combination of N5SHIELD and her app gives communities a critical source of information, allowing neighbors to investigate smoke, confirm a fire quickly, prepare their homes, and pack a go bag if necessary. The app also allows users to contact neighbors, which Dawson believes can become a vital line of communication during emergencies.

“While 911 is getting ready on their end, maybe we have time to get ready on ours,” she said.

Early Detection in Action

The Lowell Fire demonstrated how these layers of detection work in practice. Hours before flames were visible, alerts were already in motion:

• 12:09 a.m. — An N5SHIELD sensor near Rollins Lake sent the first smoke alert.
• 12:16 a.m. — A second unit near Old Donner triggered.
• 2:21 a.m. — A resident 15 miles away called 911.
• 2:56 a.m. — A hotspot appeared in the WATCH DUTY app, confirming the location.
• 4:10 a.m. — A local resident reported smoke through KNOW Wildfire and called 911.
• 6:10–7:50 a.m. — Additional N5SHIELD alerts confirmed smoke.
• 6:30 a.m. — The You Bet community activated its radio and volunteer response team.

“This fire was in an extremely difficult location, and if it had gotten a foothold, it could have been catastrophic,” said Kristen Cook, You Bet Firewise Community leader. “Fortunately, in this case, the worst did not happen. We are grateful for the coordinated response of all of our first responders.”

Expanding the Network

Dawson is now working to bring the N5SHIELD and KNOW Wildfire system to more communities across the region. Colfax recently received a grant-funded network of sensors, free to residents until March 2027.

The system depends on local participation, the sensors only work if residents agree to host them at their homes or businesses, so Dawson often partners with homeowners’ associations to implement it.

Any community that comes together can also work with her to bring N5SHIELD technology and the app into place.

“The sensors, in combination with the community app, help residents identify fires early and get mentally and physically ready to evacuate long before official notifications arrive,” Dawson said.