SACRAMENTO, the United States, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- While many high school students spend afternoons studying or hanging out with friends, 17-year-old Barrett Deng and 18-year-old Sebastien Burkhardt devote much of their time to protecting homes from wildfires through innovation.

They are the young co-founders of Clore, a Mountain View, California-based startup that develops a newly tested fire retardant already used near the recent Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles.

A handful of the homes where Clore was deployed encountered active fire during the recent disaster, reported NBC News, noting that all of those homes survived.

The idea for Clore was born during a trip to Boston in 2021. Deng was startled by how Canadian wildfire smoke drifted across North America.

"On the West Coast, we had smoke days, but I didn't realize people on the East Coast experienced them, too," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

That realization prompted him and Burkhardt to start researching wildfire defense.

"We found only one competitor," Deng recalled, referring to existing fire retardants, "and the products were often toxic. We wanted a safer alternative."

Their product, Clore Wildfire Defense, earned significant credibility in 2023 when it passed the rigorous tests of the California State Fire Marshal. "A product is no good if there isn't data to back it up," Deng said.

Soon after that milestone, some private firefighting groups around Los Angeles deployed Clore's fire retardant around homes.

"We partnered with companies like All Risk Shield," Deng said, "so when the wildfires broke out, we had product already in place."

Although Clore's successful use in actual fires was a breakthrough, the young founders were too busy to celebrate. "We ran out of product and had to make more," Deng said, recalling the hectic days spent mixing and shipping.

Feedback from local crews has been positive. "Partners cited how easy the product is to use," Deng noted, adding that the formula does not produce a strong smell or corrode equipment.

Launching a startup while finishing high school has been challenging. Deng and Burkhardt rely on a weekly spreadsheet to track progress.

"We work after school and take calls during free periods," Deng said. "We do our homework at school, so we can make the most time working on Clore outside."

Juggling everything can be stressful, but Deng finds motivation in real-world impact. "When homeowners and businesses in high-risk fire areas became interested, I knew this wasn't just a passion project."

Skepticism about their age has been an obstacle. "One hundred percent we faced doubt," Deng admitted. "People would ghost us or assume we didn't have a real product." Yet he believes personal connection often outweighs experience.

"People have no problem buying if you can convince them that you care," he said.

Growing up amid frequent wildfires also shaped Deng's sense of urgency. He remembers the "smoke days" in California when schools closed for safety. That exposure to disaster, combined with his Silicon Valley surroundings, sparked a drive to innovate.

"People in the Bay start companies all the time," he said. He also points to an early business-pitch contest as a turning point. "Sebastien and I did the Diamond Challenge in our freshman year, and it opened our eyes to entrepreneurship."

Their families have become more supportive now that Clore is making headlines. "I'm lucky my parents were always pretty supportive," Deng said, though he admitted they were cautious at first. "When we got our first few orders, they realized this was something serious."

Deng and Burkhardt's bond goes deeper than just business. They share a connection to the Chinese language and culture.

Deng's parents were born in China. His father's family is from Wuhan, where his grandfather lived before immigrating to the United States in the 1980s. As he grew up, Deng's parents insisted he speak Chinese, a tradition that kept him close to his heritage. He fondly recalled making dumplings with his family during the Chinese New Year.

Deng has visited China several times, exploring cities like Wuhan, Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenyang.

"I've always loved the food and culture there," he said, hoping to see Xi'an, Yunnan, and Harbin.

Burkhardt shared this fascination, having studied Chinese alongside Deng since middle school. Their early language lessons -- plus a mutual love of aviation -- brought them together, sparking an interest in combining technology and real-world problem-solving.

Graduating from high school this year, Deng and Burkhardt are looking ahead as they see a heightened demand for safer, more effective fire retardants.

Deng said investor interest has grown, and local authorities are asking more questions about Clore's formula. Enditem

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