Autonomous Firefighting Drones Tested as Wildfire Season Extends Year-Round in US

Firefighting drones capable of spraying water and fire retardant are being tested in California and Alaska as climate change makes wildfire season a near-year-round threat across much of the United States. While these drones cannot replace large crewed aircraft for delivering massive payloads, they offer a rapid-response tool to suppress small fires before they become destructive. On July 15, CAL FIRE demonstrated five autonomous drones that worked together to deploy 500 to 1,000 gallons of foam, in a test organized with FireWERX and Seneca, which plans to make the drones commercially available starting in 2026.