A gas sensor device includes a sensing element including a heating element and electronic circuitry in connection with the heating element. The sensing element forms a resistive element in a circuit of the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuity operates the sensing element in a trigger mode via a pulsed energy input to the heating element at a first duty cycle and in a primary mode via a pulsed energy input to the heating element at a second duty cycle, which is greater than the first duty cycle. The electronic circuitry is further configured to measure a response of the sensing element over time during each pulse of a plurality of pulses of the pulsed energy input. The primary mode is entered upon measurement of a value of a response at or above a threshold value in the trigger mode of operation.