Firefighting drones tested as wildfires become year-round risk in US

Firefighting agencies are testing drones that can spray water and fire retardants, aiming to use them as a rapid-response tool against wildfires as climate change extends the fire season nearly year-round across the United States. This summer, drones have been practicing early wildfire suppression in California and Alaska, demonstrating a potential new approach to firefighting.

Most drones are much smaller than crewed aircraft and have shorter flight ranges, so they cannot replace large airtankers that deliver massive payloads to remote fires. However, companies, fire agencies, and the organizers of the $11 million XPRIZE competition are exploring whether drones can help crews respond faster to small fires and extinguish them before they grow destructive.

On July 15, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) conducted a field test with five autonomous drones that worked together to deploy between 500 and 1,000 gallons of foam for fire suppression, according to TV station KPMH. The demonstration was organized with the nonprofit FireWERX and Seneca, a California-based company that plans to make the drones commercially available starting in 2026.

This development matters because wildfires have become more frequent and severe, threatening communities and ecosystems across the country. If drones can effectively suppress small fires early, they could reduce the need for larger, costlier firefighting efforts and limit damage. The next steps involve further testing and refinement, with commercial availability expected in a few years, potentially giving fire agencies a new tool to combat the growing wildfire crisis.