Sensor Array Tracks Toxic Metals in Wildfire Smoke

Stanford researchers are testing a prototype that aims to monitor and forecast toxic metal particles released by wildfires.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Asthma

Sensor Array Tracks Toxic Metals in Wildfire Smoke

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In early July 2026, Stanford researchers attached a briefcase-sized sensor box to a firetruck in Colorado to test a prototype that monitors wildfire smoke. The project is part of the SmokeCast effort to forecast where toxic metals in smoke will travel.

Why it matters

Wildfires can convert naturally occurring metals in soil into airborne particles linked to cancer and other health problems, yet there is currently no way to monitor these metals in real time or predict their path. Better tracking could help firefighters and residents understand exposure risks as wildfires become more frequent and extreme.

The prototype array of air filters and satellite-linked sensors measured temperature, humidity, and carbon monoxide around the truck during the 14-day deployment. The app estimated the likelihood that soils within 10 miles of a fire could release toxic metals, but the forecast's accuracy has not been established.

The players

Stanford University

A private research university in Stanford, California, home to the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator that supports more than 110 active projects.

Scott Fendorf

A Stanford researcher leading the SmokeCast project to forecast toxic metals in wildfire smoke.

The details

The sensor box collected smoke samples, and the firetruck returned to its station after 14 days, when the crew sent samples to Fendorf's lab. The devices provided firefighters real-time data through a smartphone app.

2019: Kincade Fire burned in Sonoma County, Northern California.
Early July 2026: Sensor box was attached to a Colorado firetruck.
14 days later: The firetruck returned and smoke samples were sent to the lab.
Within a year: The team aims to produce a more accurate toxic metal forecast.
Within a few years: Fendorf hopes anyone can check air toxicity on their phone.

Big Picture

The SmokeCast project is one of more than 110 active projects supported by the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator. It extends that portfolio into real-time monitoring of toxic metals in wildfire smoke, a gap that existing tools do not address.

Residents in wildfire-prone areas may eventually be able to check air toxicity on their phones, though the tool is not yet available. Until then, the findings do not change current guidance on smoke exposure.

The takeaway

Wildfire smoke can carry toxic metals that current monitoring does not measure, and new sensor and forecasting tools are being tested to close that gap. Staying aware of smoke alerts remains important while these tools are developed.