Drones Fight Fires: California & Alaska Trials

Wildfire fighting is seeing advancements with the testing of autonomous drones in California and Alaska. These drones are being evaluated as a tool for rapid response, aiming to extinguish fires in their early stages. This technology is particularly relevant as climate change extends the wildfire season across the United States.

In July 2026, CAL FIRE participated in a field test with five autonomous drones. These drones collectively deployed between 500 and 1,000 gallons of foam, demonstrating coordinated suppression efforts. Seneca's drones, commercially available from 2026, can carry approximately 100 pounds each and operate in swarms.

These drones navigate to GPS waypoints and use onboard sensors to identify heat signatures, hovering to spray retardant. Seneca aims for a two-minute turnaround for refilling and battery swaps, making them quickly operational. The drones have a limited range, requiring strategic prepositioning.

Separately, the XPRIZE Wildfire competition held finals testing near Fairbanks, Alaska in June 2026. Dryad Networks' Silvaguard drone system, integrated with their Silvanet wildfire detection network, autonomously detected and suppressed a fire. This system uses tree-mounted sensors to detect smoke, with observation drones confirming the fire before suppression drones deploy retardant.

The Aspen Fire Protection District in Colorado has committed to a $5 million contract for five of Seneca's drones over five years, indicating early adoption. CAL FIRE, operating a large aerial firefighting fleet, is also a potential customer for drone technology.