We live in a very dry area of Southern Oregon, and have been rocked in the past by terrible fires. When we used RainPoint timers to automate our garden and tree watering, I was able to also add on a WiFi timer that allows us to remotely turn on our fire sprinklers even when we are out of town! Luckily we haven’t had to use them but it has really given us peace of mind.
Each year we add to our system and it’s safe to say we’ll never go back to watering our plants and trees by hand. Plus putting the systems together is like a huge lego set, and I love customizing it when we add new plants!
Your idea is absolutely brilliant. I’m sure there are cameras monitoring the situation in your home. At the same time, it’s necessary to ensure that the Wi-Fi signal won’t be disrupted by the fire. Otherwise, it might be impossible to open the water timer. Are there any other things to note?
Wow, this is such an important and smart use of the system! Turning your irrigation into a fire-prevention tool is next-level thinking. Thanks for sharing this — it’s a reminder that smart watering isn’t just about convenience, it can truly help protect what matters. Stay safe out there!
“Building the system like a LEGO set” — that’s such a perfect way to describe it! Saving time on hand-watering while gaining peace of mind. Can’t wait to see what you add next!
Being able to travel worry-free while protecting your garden — that’s what smart irrigation is all about! Keep enjoying “building” your system, you’re doing amazing!
Yes, as soon as we get a firewatch warning we can start tracking the spread of the fire in our area and could start watering to give the fence and backyard some water, keeping them better prepared to hopefully not catch if a fire went by. Last time a fire happened in our area (right before we moved in) it burned the backyard fence but not the yard or house!
Yes, it does feel good not to have to ask the neighbors to water! And really to get basic coverage while on vacation was not expensive at all - we have a pretty big garden and we could have done the bare minimum for ~$100 including the timer. But of course I like to set it up with a lot more individualized watering!
Turning your irrigation into a fire-prevention tool is next-level thinking. Thanks for sharing this — it’s a reminder that smart watering isn’t just about convenience, it can truly help protect what matters. Stay safe out there!
Saving time on hand-watering while gaining peace of mind. Can’t wait to see what you add next!