FAQs

The Frontline Wildfire Defense System is a preventative system that combats the threat of wind-borne embers. The automated wildfire sprinkler system is designed to be turned on when fire is within seven miles of your home, well ahead of fire showing up at your doorstep. Embers can travel for miles and threaten your home long before a wildfire is visible from your property. By running your Frontline system early, you allow your property to become fully hydrated and create an environment where embers are unable to cause a fire. Our system is not intended to address direct flame contact or radiant heat risk. These risks should be mitigated through vegetation management, defensible space, and home hardening. While both direct flame contact and radiant heat are real threats to a home, the number one reason homes burn is ember ignition, which our system is specifically designed to prevent, backed by years of research and innovation.

Our system is designed to be run early, well ahead of fire being on your doorstep or firefighters requiring a high volume of water close to your home. It is a preventative system that pre-wets your property to create an environment that is too wet for wind-borne embers to ignite your home or items surrounding your home.

Our system is digitally connected and we are actively engaging with fire departments throughout the Western US to understand how we can be used as an additional resource when they need it most. Our fleet of systems can be remotely monitored through our digital platform, so fire departments can see where systems are located if they are running, and even how much water is being used at any given moment. If needed our systems can be activated or shut off remotely to ensure water is being used most effectively during major fire events.

Our systems use significantly less water than the fire department uses on a single home. We use between 15 and 25 gallons per minute as opposed to 600 gallons per minute used by a single firehose. If the fire department has to address a home that has caught fire and uses two hoses for 30 min to try to save a home, it would be the same amount of water as running our system constantly for 24 hours. Since our system is preventative, it can actually save a home from catching fire, reduce the workload on fire departments during a wildfire, and use less water than if the fire department has to be deployed to a home after it has ignited.

The Frontline system is designed to use water intelligently. Each system has dedicated zones and the system will cycle through each zone when it is turned on, much like a home irrigation system. Each zone will run for 5 to 7 minutes. Once the full cycle is completed, the system will stop running for 20 to 30 minutes and then run again. Our system is designed to run effectively with low water pressure, which helps conserve water resources and allows the system to work even if pressure drops during a fire.

We will always use your home’s primary water source first. Typically this is municipal water. We also like to consider backup water options in case your primary water source becomes unavailable during a fire. Common backup water sources include pools, tanks, wells, or even ponds. Backup water sources require a pump and a backup source of power such as a generator or home battery like a Tesla Powerwall.

Every Frontline system comes with WiFi, cellular, and satellite connectivity as well as more than four days of dedicated backup battery power to allow communication with the Frontline software platform. If the power is shut off and local cell service fails, you can still stay connected to your Frontline system and defend your home from anywhere. If your system’s primary water source is something other than municipal (city) water, it will likely require a backup generator or home battery to ensure your pumps can run if the power is shut off.

To account for wind we custom-design every system with more than 100% overlap in coverage between each sprinkler head. Our system is intended to be run well ahead of fire being on your doorstep, to allow your property to be fully hydrated before the peak risk and highest wind speed occur. Additionally, during a fire embers tend to accumulate where they are blown by wind. The wind has the same effect on the water being distributed by our system, so the wind can help distribute water to the places where embers are most likely to be present during a fire.

The Class A firefighting foam is a surfactant, designed to break down the surface tension of water. It allows water to be absorbed into your property more quickly and reduces the rate of evaporation. The foam makes more efficient use of the water being applied and reduces the total volume of water required to keep your home safe.

Our foam is non-corrosive, non-toxic, readily biodegradable, and has no flash point. It does not contain any fluorinated surfactants such as PFOS/PFOA, which are found only in Class B foams. It is a surfactant that breaks down water tension, allows water to be absorbed into the property more quickly, and reduces the rate of evaporation (which reduces the amount of water needed to be effective against ember ignition). It can be washed away by simply running your system for a few minutes without foam, which is an option through the Frontline Wildfire App.

Wildfire ember attacks have dramatically increased over the past decade, resulting in over $20 billion in damage and more than 7 million acres burned annually in the U.S. alone. Ember attacks are a major threat. To maximize protection, complete all wildfire mitigation efforts—including radiant heat, ember, and flame defenses—in addition to installing a sprinkler system. 

Home Hardening involves preparing your home to withstand wildfires by mitigating threats from flames, radiant heat, and stray embers. 

Following FEMA’s recommendations—including ember-rated vents, gutter guards, Class A fire-rated roofing materials, proper sealing of windows, doors, and garages, and ensuring clear space under decks—combined with a Platypus Sprinkler & Controller system increases your home’s protection. 

Over 70 million homes in the U.S. lower 48 states are at risk from wildfires. You can check your home’s wildfire zone severity by entering your address on the Platypus website. 

FEMA recommends exterior sprinkler systems (with dedicated power or water tanks if necessary) as a measure to protect homes from ember attacks. Garden hoses, garbage cans, tubs, or other containers can also be used if water sources are limited. 

Fire retardants can supplement protection, but are not required. While foam retardants can be used in exterior sprinkler systems, increasing humidity around your home is often the most effective proactive protection. 

For product and pricing inquiries, email info@columbiagorgefire.com.

The system includes a 12-month limited manufacturing guarantee. Contact the company for full details. 

Yes—every system component is replaceable. You can order replacements via email or through their Wildfire Shop. 

Replacement parts can be ordered online through the Wildfire Shop, or you can email sales for current products and pricing. 

Insurers may offer discounts for homes in wildfire zones that are properly hardened, including homes with a sprinkler system installed. 

The controller monitors ambient air temperature and activates the sprinkler system when it rises above a user-set point (up to 149 °F). It runs for up to 60 minutes, pauses for up to 60 minutes, and repeats until temperatures drop 35–40 °F below the set point. The system sends status updates via SMS, includes an EVAC button for manual emergency activation, and supports remote control via SMS. A SIM card with an annual contract is required for the SMS communications. 

Yes—you can install it yourself or hire someone. However, it’s highly recommended to get a design from Platypus’s design team to ensure proper component sizing, piping, and tank information. 

Installation time varies depending on design. Getting a design from Platypus helps installers provide a more accurate timeframe. 

The Platypus sprinkler features a twin-outlet head that spins on a central shaft, dispersing large droplets in a full circle—no outer support frame, unlike traditional mist-producing irrigation sprinklers. This design maximizes water effectiveness by reducing wind drift and misting, important in wildfire conditions where water is scarce.