California's San Bernardino County is turning to autonomous drone technology in an ambitious effort to stop wildfires before they have a chance to spread. The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District has signed an agreement with technology company Seneca to deploy five AI-powered firefighting aircraft, a mobile operations base and specialized autonomy software. The five-drone strike team is designed to deliver more than 500 gallons of finished firefighting foam, with a single trained pilot supervising multiple aircraft. Using onboard artificial intelligence and autonomous navigation, the drones are intended to reach newly detected fires quickly, including locations that are difficult or dangerous for ground crews to access. The system is also designed to support nighttime firefighting operations, when some traditional crewed aerial resources may be unavailable.

San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey has established an ambitious target of stopping 90% of fires before they grow beyond 10 square feet, with autonomous rapid-response technology expected to help advance that objective. Beyond attacking newly discovered fires, the drones are designed to protect structures by deploying suppressant around vulnerable areas and assist firefighters by suppressing remaining hot spots during cleanup operations. The technology could also reduce firefighters' exposure to dangerous conditions while allowing existing crews and aircraft to concentrate on other emergencies. The county expects firefighter training to begin ahead of the aircraft deliveries planned for the first and second quarters of 2027, with the system scheduled to enter operations before the peak 2027 wildfire season. If successfully integrated, the autonomous fleet could provide an additional layer of protection across one of America's largest and most geographically challenging counties.