The Wildfire Suppression System Built to Fight Fire From the Ground | Gadi Benjamini
October 1, 2026
What if autonomous technology could detect and extinguish wildfires before they reach homes and communities? Wildfires are becoming an increasingly urgent climate resilience challenge, yet while detection systems have advanced rapidly, suppression remains largely fragmented and reactive. Gadi Benjamini, Co-founder and CEO of FireDome, believes autonomous hardware can change that.
In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Gadi about how FireDome combines early detection with rapid, targeted suppression to protect properties in the wildland-urban interface. He explains how the company’s long-range autonomous launcher was inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, why insurance companies could play a critical role in driving adoption, and what it takes to engineer hardware that can perform reliably in extreme conditions.
Gadi also shares lessons from testing, multidisciplinary engineering, and building climate technology around a clear purpose, while turning wildfire protection from an emergency response into proactive resilience.
Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies.
To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/ to get in touch!
What if autonomous technology could detect and extinguish wildfires before they reach homes and communities? Wildfires are becoming an increasingly urgent climate resilience challenge, yet while detection systems have advanced rapidly, suppression remains largely fragmented and reactive. Gadi Benjamini, Co-founder and CEO of FireDome, believes autonomous hardware can change that.
In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Gadi about how FireDome combines early detection with rapid, targeted suppression to protect properties in the wildland-urban interface. He explains how the company’s long-range autonomous launcher was inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, why insurance companies could play a critical role in driving adoption, and what it takes to engineer hardware that can perform reliably in extreme conditions.
Gadi also shares lessons from testing, multidisciplinary engineering, and building climate technology around a clear purpose, while turning wildfire protection from an emergency response into proactive resilience.
What you will learn:
- How to position resilience technology as a mandatory risk-mitigation tool
- Why the suppression side of wildfire management is under-innovated
- The three-layer protection framework for properties
- How to engineer autonomous systems that operate reliably
- The importance of multidisciplinary teams when combining hardware and software at scale
- How to validate hardware performance without real-world fire conditions
- Why clarity of purpose and persistent learning are non-negotiable in deep-tech ventures
Gadi Benjamini is the Co-founder and CEO of FireDome, a climate resilience company developing autonomous, AI-powered technology to detect, contain, and suppress wildfires before they spread. With 16 years of leadership and management experience, including roles in Israeli defense and intelligence, Gadi brings a unique perspective to complex hardware and systems engineering. His background in chemistry and deep-tech innovation informs FireDome’s mission to help communities and businesses build greater wildfire resilience through autonomous systems and eco-friendly suppression technology.
Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies.
To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/ to get in touch!
Episode Resources:
- Gadi Benjamini on LinkedIn
- FireDome Website
- Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
- Synapse Podcast Website
- Synapse Website
- Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
- Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify
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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Going Big on Clean Energy with Small Fusion Reactors with Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy
- The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS
- Marine Electrification to Reduce Costs and Environmental Damage: A Conversation with Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Photon Marine
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