May 2—When he goes out for a hike on Mount Burdell near his Novato home, Rehan Nazeem is careful to check out the potential wildfire risk on a new app he recently built.
Last fall, before the rainy season, the risk was as high as 70% on the app, called the “Terrain Fire Risk Analyzer,” he said. When he checked it again this spring, it was down to about 20%.
“I tried to make my front-end design as quick to use and intuitive, so that anyone in the community could use it,” said Nazeem, 17, a junior at San Marin High School. “It’s designed to be as accessible and easy as possible.”
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, who represents Marin in Congress, has chosen Nazeem and his creation as the winner of his 2024 Congressional App Challenge.
The contest, established in 2013, invites high school students from participating congressional districts to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application for mobile, tablet or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Apps are judged based on factors such as creativity, originality, design and technical skills.
“Huffman stated in a release that Rehan’s application has significantly elevated standards by merging technological functionalities with contemporary societal demands,” he remarked. “The Terrain Fire Risk Analyzer tackles one of the most critical issues currently confronting our community—empowering individuals to remain secure and ready for wildfires via user-friendly technology.”
The Terrain Fire Risk Analyzer evaluates elements like meteorological information and the length of grasses. Individuals may decide to go hiking on a path regardless of a significant fire danger likelihood, yet this application can assist them in being better informed, according to Nazeem.
“I believe this provides individuals greater mental clarity,” he stated. “This is particularly true during periods of uncertainty—when you can sense instability, with potential fires brewing, strong winds blowing, and scorching temperatures—it can offer reassurance about how to move forward.”
In acknowledgment of his achievement, Nazeem was asked to present awards at an event titled “House of Code,” which took place last month in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he had a meeting with Huffman at his workplace in the city.
“The Novato Unified School District takes great pride in Rehan for securing first place in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge,” stated Tracy Smith, the district’s superintendent. “This recognition is quite an achievement. His creativity and leadership serve as an inspiration to our whole school community.”
Nazeem, who is in the engineering track of San Marin’s science, technology, engineering and math program, said his app uses a photo of a house, trail, landscape or other terrain where a risk estimate is desired to make its fire susceptibility calculations. A user can either take a photo and transfer it to the app, or pull up a photo from the device library and sync that with the app.
Nazeem mentioned that he is putting efforts into enhancing the application and incorporating additional features. Ultimately, his aim is to present it to Marin fire authorities to seek their input on potential improvements or methods to further develop the tool.
“I’m pleased that I could utilize my abilities to tackle an issue our community undoubtedly encounters and one they might increasingly grapple with down the road,” he stated. “I have absolutely no intention of halting now. Instead, I aim to continue developing it, ensuring it remains as beneficial and precise as can be.”
Originally Published: May 2, 2025 at 9:57 AM PST
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