Meet The Team
Eric Pazder
Being a licensed pyrotechnician Eric has been our testing mastermind. His experience in machining, fabrication, and the maker hobby made Eric our chief of hardware and assembly.
Tait Russell
Tait brought his experience as an electrician to the team which was invaluable for circuit design and troubleshooting. His background managing electricians and worksites transferred seamlessly into the project manager role for the group. Despite having the least programming experience on the team, he took on the bulk of software and firmware development and delivered.
Miaya Cramb
Miaya spent seven years in logistics and support roles within the CAF, where she was responsible for equipment maintenance, inventory management, procurement, and asset disposal. She was the driving force behind the concept, responsible for all 3D design and fabrication and ensured the project's vision remained focused from start to finish.
Origins
The idea for ASHES was born from real wildfire experience.
In 2021, the same day as the devastating Lytton BC fire, a forest fire ignited just 300 meters from Tait's family home. During the evacuation, Tait, like many of his neighbors climbed to the roof with a garden sprinkler, hoping it might help protect the house. Thankfully, the fire was contained.
Later, while in a hardware store, Miaya spotted a basic roof sprinkler kit and thought, "In this day and age, we should be able to make something better than this."
That observation sparked the question: what if you could have an automated system that detects fire conditions and activates sprinklers even when you're not home?
That question became ASHES, our capstone project. A modern solution to a problem that's becoming increasingly urgent as wildfire seasons grow longer and more severe.
This project would not be possible without the resources and support provided by Camosun College and its instructors. We are incredibly grateful for the time and effort that has been invested in us.
- The ASHES Team
