San Bernardino County Fire has partnered with Seneca Systems to deploy a fleet of five autonomous firefighting drones. The system includes a mobile operations base and specialized software designed to suppress wildfires in their early stages. The drones are scheduled to enter service before the 2027 wildfire season.
The strike team is capable of carrying over 500 gallons of firefighting foam. A single operator can manage all five aircraft simultaneously, which allows for rapid response times of under 10 minutes from detection. The system is engineered to operate in difficult terrain and during nighttime hours.
Fire Chief Dan Munsey aims to use this technology to contain 90% of fires before they exceed 10 square feet. By automating the initial attack phase, the department intends to improve safety for ground crews and increase the efficiency of emergency responses across the county's vast land area.
