About Us
Our Story
On a hot August day in 2021, a barn caught fire just north of Spokane, Washington. Two firefighters arrived on a brush truck containing 200 gallons of water to put out the fire. The flames were still raging when the water ran out, and their next line of defense was to dig a fireline, by hand, around the barn to stop it from spreading.
Before the firefighters could dig all the way around the barn, a gust of wind swept the flames right past them into a neighboring field. The fire spread rapidly and continued to burn for 30 days, charring 16,000 acres, destroying 18 homes and costing nearly $7 million to put out.
All because a fire line couldn't be dug fast enough.
As the founder of Blaze Barrier, I’ve dedicated my career to creating innovative products that make a difference. After learning that modern firefighters are still using rudimentary hand tools to fight wildfire, I set out to develop an effective tool to amplify their efforts and make their job safer.
Our Vision
At Blaze Barrier, our vision is to drastically improve wildfire defense and provide homeowners and firefighters with an effective, easy-to-use tool to combat the growing threat of wildfires. We believe that everyone should have the means to protect their homes, property and livestock from these devastating natural and man-made disasters.
Our mission is to make Blaze Barrier an accessible, essential part of every home’s wildfire defense system, reducing the risk of fire damage and providing peace of mind to property owners everywhere.
Our Product
The Blaze Barrier is a wildfire defense solution that helps homeowners protect their homes and property from the devastation caused by wildfire. For firefighters, it helps by giving them a fast and effective tool that safely amplifies their efforts, replacing the need to dig fire lines by hand in the intense heat, smoke and flames on the front line.
The Blaze Barrier, the world’s first “fire-line-in-a-box”, is a set of fire retardant modules that are strung together into a 50- or 100-foot defensive shield that can be laid out in less than a minute. When activated by flames, each module propels fire retardant 5 feet into the oncoming wildfire and 5 feet away, extinguishing the flames and covering surrounding vegetation to help prevent further spread.
The Blaze Barrier is designed to bring the power and benefits of a fire line to homeowners, while freeing up firefighters to quickly and safely cover more ground, by replacing their need to dig fire lines by hand.
Key features of the product:
- Rapid Deployment: the Blaze Barrier can be laid down in less than 60 seconds so you can quickly protect your home and then evacuate.
- Flame-Activated Modules: when activated by flames, Blaze Barrier modules release a fire retardant, extinguishing the fire instantly and creating a 10 foot barrier of fire protection.
- Eco-Friendly: the modules are 100% biodegradable and the fire retardant is often used as a fertilizer, ensuring Blaze Barrier is safe for the environment and leaves no harmful residue.
Blaze Barrier offers a reliable and innovative approach to wildfire defense, AND this patent-pending product is manufactured right here in the USA.
How Does It Work?
When a wildfire reaches the Blaze Barrier, the flames trigger the release of a non-toxic fire extinguishing powder that knocks down the flames and creates a fire-retardant barrier.
Prepare
Choose the length and quantity you need to properly protect your home. Store each box in a dry location, such as your garage or storage shed. Have a box or two ready to go when you get that knock on the door to evacuate your home.
Deploy
When alerted to a wildfire in your area, open up the box of the Blaze Barrier, push the stake into the ground on one side of your home and start walking in a straight line. The modules will fall out of the box, one by one as you walk, forming a barrier in front of your home.
If the fire never reaches your home and the product is unused, you can pack it back into the box and keep it for the next time!
Evacuate
DO NOT stay and wait to see if the Blaze Barrier works. Wildfires are highly unpredictable and can overrun or block your exit.
Obey local law enforcement and fire personnel and evacuate the area. The bottom of the Blaze Barrier box can double as a warning sign to others that the Blaze Barrier has been deployed nearby. Set them up near the deployed modules so others know to stay back when flames are nearby.
Suppression
The Blaze Barrier will suppress the flames when they reach it, and not before. The expelled payload of the fire extinguisher powder extinguishes the flames and covers the surrounding vegetation with a protective coating. This helps prevent small embers from re-igniting within the protected area on the other side.
Clean Up
Or don't! Every component of the Blaze Barrier is 100% biodegradable. The scattered pieces and powder from all the modules can remain on the ground or safely placed in the trash or recycled.
Our Founder
Jacob Schuler is the founder and CEO of Blaze Barrier, Inc., with over 20 years of experience in engineering and product development. Holding a track record of successfully leading projects from concept to delivery, Jacob has been dedicated to perfecting Blaze Barrier since 2021. His expertise in managing complex manufacturing processes and his unwavering commitment to quality and safety ensure that every product is crafted to the highest standards. Jacob’s leadership, combined with his deep industry knowledge, ensures Blaze Barrier will always be delivered with integrity and precision.
Timeline
We are committed to delivering Blaze Barrier to our backers as quickly as possible, with a projected timeline for delivery in April 2025, as outlined in the graphic below. However, please be aware that unexpected challenges may arise that could impact this timeline. We promise to constantly be transparent about our journey and promise that we will keep you updated every step of the way.
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Mission
Blaze Barrier is dedicated to redefining wildfire safety, innovating with purpose to protect lives, safeguard health, and defend properties, all within a sustainable framework.
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Vision
At Blaze Barrier, we see a future defined by resilience and safety, where our sustainable wildfire solutions bring peace of mind to communities and firefighters across the globe.
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Values
- Innovation
- Safety
- Sustainability
- Reliability
- Collaboration
- Integrity
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Why it Matters
- Escalating Threat: With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe, innovative defense solutions are crucial for community safety and environmental preservation.
- Direct Impact: Effective wildfire management directly translates to saved lives, protected homes, and preserved health, making our mission not just a business goal, but a societal necessity.
- Sustainable Future: Our commitment to sustainability ensures that our solutions not only address immediate threats but also contribute to long-term environmental health and resilience.