A smoke detector that alerts help: Discovery Insure launches market-first fire response solution for homes

Discovery Insure introduces Discovery 911 smoke detector to the public

Discovery Insure has launched the Discovery 911 smoke detector, a residential fire detection and emergency response solution that automatically detects a fire in the home and alerts Discovery Insure’s 24/7 emergency response centre, which coordinates a rapid fire response. Available nationwide to the public (not just Discovery Insure clients), the easy-to-install device costs R400 to activate, with a monthly subscription starting at R75.

“When it comes to fighting a fire, time is a critical factor,” says Precious Nduli, Chief Commercial Officer at Discovery Insure. “Yet the moments that matter most are often when people cannot act – they may be away, asleep, injured, overwhelmed, or simply unsure of who to call as panic sets in.

“The market-first Discovery 911 smoke detector and response system addresses these challenges by automating early fire detection, enabling immediate emergency escalation and rapid fire-response coordination. This automation makes for a market-first difference in the case of residential fires – enabling fast response, limiting damage and protecting human life.”

The fire response coordinated through Discovery Insure’s emergency call centre links the public to a professional national fire response network, including Discovery Insure’s Fire Force – a firefighting project launched with Fire Ops SA in 2022.

Early detection and fast response are key to reducing fire damage
According to the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa, residential structures represent South Africa’s greatest fire risk. In 2024 alone, there were 4,997 fires at formal residences, resulting in R5.1 billion in damages. Most critically, dwellings also accounted for 403 of the 481 total fire-related deaths recorded in 2024 – 85% of all fire fatalities – with fires at formal dwellings claiming 132 lives.

De Wet Engelbrecht, CEO of Fire Ops SA and Deputy Fire Chief, adds: “We respond to three to four structural fires each day. Time is of the essence on three critical fronts: detecting the fire, notifying emergency services, and getting the response team to the scene. For the average home and resident, the upfront process can take up to 12 minutes in the best-case scenario, where residents are home, see the smoke or fire, and know exactly what to do next."

“Contrast this with having an intelligent smoke detector in place that detects the earliest signs of fire – whether people are home or not, able to act or not – and that automatically conveys this to the Discovery Insure emergency call centre within seconds, with an appropriate response immediately set in motion.”

What drives up residential fire risk?
Most residential fires start with everyday household activities, from cooking and heating-related risks to electrical faults, illegal connections and overloaded systems. Power outages also increase fire risk as appliances might be left on and restart unexpectedly.

Environmental factors, such as lightning strikes or seasonal wildfires, also pose a fire risk to homes.

Fire risk tends to peak in winter as households rely more on heating, appliances, and open flames, placing additional strain on household electrical systems. Fires are also likely to start during the holidays or weekends when people entertain more frequently, and routines become less structured.

More recently, solar and inverter systems have introduced new risks, particularly as older lithium batteries come to the end of their lifespan.

Engelbrecht explains: “We have seen a sharp increase in solar-related structural fires, with a quarter of all structural fires we respond to linked to those systems. As lithium batteries age or aren’t replaced in time, the risk increases and these fires require very specific protocols to extinguish.”

Residential fires are not a rare risk. “For Discovery Insure, 94% of fire claims are for partial losses, but even these sorts of incidents cause significant damage, disruption and personal risk,” says Nduli. “With fire risk driven by everyday behaviour, seasonal patterns and environmental factors, the most effective protection is an intelligent solution that can detect danger early and trigger response automatically.”

Bringing faster fire response into the home
“Insurance should do more than respond after the fact – it should proactively help prevent loss and protect people when and where they are most vulnerable. With the Discovery 911 smoke detector and linked automated fire-response system, Discovery Insure is closing the gap between risk and action, reducing damage, protecting homes and keeping people safe.”

Pricing for the Discovery 911 smoke detector
• A once-off fee of R400 (which can be paid over 12 months)
• A tiered monthly subscription to the service to encourage full home coverage:
- One smoke detector: R75 a month
- Two smoke detectors: R100 a month (total subscription for both devices)
- Three to five smoke detectors: R110 a month (total subscription for five devices)