“I’m in a unique position to put together a company that does this,” she said.
Founder Ariel Strong, along with Creag Znetko and Jeff McCormick with the City of Flagstaff and Aspen Poturalski from Moonshot, celebrated the grand opening of FireFlight with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 28, on the Moonshot Flagstaff campus.
With a background in computer software and wildland and structural firefighting, Strong, a former member of the Parks-Bellemont Fire Department (2002- 2006), pitched the need for FireFlight to the City of Flagstaff last year in its Innovate Green Challenge.
“I’m in a unique position to put together a company that does this,” she said. “Drones provide a great view of the landscape – a bigger perspective than from the ground – so, you get a sense of where fire is most apt to approach and you can see who is at higher risk.”
Taking second place in the entrepreneurial competition, Strong received a $10,000 grant from the city. “That was a major boost for the new business and allowed me to get some additional training,” she said. “It enabled me to become a National Fire Protection Association Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS).” She is currently one of only two people with that certification in Arizona.
The FireFlight office is located in the Moonshot Flagstaff business incubator on Gemini Drive. “The advantage of being in the incubator is really about the connections. We are constantly in contact with other entrepreneurs in that supportive and collaborative environment.”
Strong offers free educational presentations about wildfire and provides steps that homeowners, businesses and neighborhoods can take to minimize their fire risk. For more information, visit https://www.fireflight.pro or contact Strong at FireFlight at ariel@fireflight.pro. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: City of Flagstaff, Moonshot and FireFlight combine efforts to minimize fire risk. Creag Znetko and Jeff McCormick with the City of Flagstaff, FireFlight founder Ariel Strong and Moonshot’s Aspen Poturalski marked the grand opening of the new high-tech startup with a ribbon cutting ceremony last month.
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