Autonomous drones capable of spraying water and fire retardant are being tested in California and Alaska to provide rapid response to wildfires as climate change extends fire season nearly year-round. While smaller than crewed aircraft, these drones aim to suppress small fires before they become destructive.
In a July 15 test, CAL FIRE used five autonomous drones to deploy between 500 and 1,000 gallons of foam. The drones, developed with Seneca and FireWERX, are expected to be commercially available by 2026.
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