Firefighting drones that can spray water and retardant have been tested in California and Alaska, demonstrating a potential tool for rapid response as climate change makes wildfire season nearly year-round. While smaller than crewed aircraft, they cannot replace large airtankers but may help extinguish small fires quickly.
In July, CAL FIRE tested five autonomous drones that together deployed 500 to 1,000 gallons of foam. The drones are being developed by Seneca and are expected to be commercially available in 2026.
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