A method for detecting and determining a location of an overheat condition along an optical fiber, the method comprising: (a) executing a first set of steps, the first set of steps comprising: i. producing a narrowband optical signal at a wavelength with at least one of a laser source and an optical pulse generator; ii. sending the optical signal into the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings at spaced locations; iii. receiving a plurality of reflected optical signals reflected by the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings; iv. detecting, using a photodetector, reflection intensities of the plurality of reflected optical signals; v. comparing the reflection intensities with a triggering threshold of reflection intensity; vi. recording response times of the plurality of reflected optical signals whenever the reflection intensity of the optical signals is greater than the triggering threshold; vii. adjusting the narrowband optical signal to another, different wavelength; and viii. repeating steps (i)-(vii) in order to step through a range of discrete wavelengths; (b) identifying, based on the recorded response times, an anomaly reflected optical signal using a characteristic of the timings obtained through a range of wavelengths; (c) determining, with a first controller, the location of the overheat condition based on recorded response times; (d) communicating the location and existence of the overheat condition to a second controller; and (e) executing a second set of steps to determine the triggering threshold, the second set of steps comprising: (i) adjusting, with the first controller in combination with the optical pulse generator, a first center wavelength of the optical signal sent into the optical fiber; (ii) scanning the optical fiber with a second optical pulse with a second center wavelength; (iii) stepping through a range of wavelengths; (iv) examining timings obtained from at least one of an up-crossing and a down-crossing of the triggering threshold of reflection intensity; and (v) varying the triggering threshold of reflection intensity. (a) executing a first set of steps, the first set of steps comprising: i. producing a narrowband optical signal at a wavelength with at least one of a laser source and an optical pulse generator; ii. sending the optical signal into the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings at spaced locations; iii. receiving a plurality of reflected optical signals reflected by the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings; iv. detecting, using a photodetector, reflection intensities of the plurality of reflected optical signals; v. comparing the reflection intensities with a triggering threshold of reflection intensity; vi. recording response times of the plurality of reflected optical signals whenever the reflection intensity of the optical signals is greater than the triggering threshold; vii. adjusting the narrowband optical signal to another, different wavelength; and viii. repeating steps (i)-(vii) in order to step through a range of discrete wavelengths; i. producing a narrowband optical signal at a wavelength with at least one of a laser source and an optical pulse generator; ii. sending the optical signal into the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings at spaced locations; iii. receiving a plurality of reflected optical signals reflected by the plurality of fiber Bragg gratings; iv. detecting, using a photodetector, reflection intensities of the plurality of reflected optical signals; v. comparing the reflection intensities with a triggering threshold of reflection intensity; vi. recording response times of the plurality of reflected optical signals whenever the reflection intensity of the optical signals is greater than the triggering threshold; vii. adjusting the narrowband optical signal to another, different wavelength; and viii. repeating steps (i)-(vii) in order to step through a range of discrete wavelengths; (b) identifying, based on the recorded response times, an anomaly reflected optical signal using a characteristic of the timings obtained through a range of wavelengths; (c) determining, with a first controller, the location of the overheat condition based on recorded response times; (d) communicating the location and existence of the overheat condition to a second controller; and (e) executing a second set of steps to determine the triggering threshold, the second set of steps comprising: (i) adjusting, with the first controller in combination with the optical pulse generator, a first center wavelength of the optical signal sent into the optical fiber; (ii) scanning the optical fiber with a second optical pulse with a second center wavelength; (iii) stepping through a range of wavelengths; (iv) examining timings obtained from at least one of an up-crossing and a down-crossing of the triggering threshold of reflection intensity; and (v) varying the triggering threshold of reflection intensity. (i) adjusting, with the first controller in combination with the optical pulse generator, a first center wavelength of the optical signal sent into the optical fiber; (ii) scanning the optical fiber with a second optical pulse with a second center wavelength; (iii) stepping through a range of wavelengths; (iv) examining timings obtained from at least one of an up-crossing and a down-crossing of the triggering threshold of reflection intensity; and (v) varying the triggering threshold of reflection intensity.