Drones Tested for Early Wildfire Suppression as U.S. Fire Season Lengthens

Firefighting drones capable of spraying water and retardants have been tested in California and Alaska this summer, offering a potential rapid-response tool as climate change extends wildfire season nearly year-round. While drones cannot replace large crewed aircraft for delivering massive payloads to remote fires, companies and agencies are exploring their use to quickly suppress small blazes before they escalate. In a July 15 test, CAL FIRE used five autonomous drones to collectively deploy 500 to 1,000 gallons of foam, with support from the nonprofit FireWERX and Seneca, a company planning commercial availability by 2026.