Aerial wildfire response has taken a leap forward with the showcasing of new drone technology that aims to hit fires early and fast.

Fresh from its recent launch seeded by $60 million in capital raising, Seneca demonstrated its wildfire suppression drones at the Red Sky Summit in San Francisco this week, with plans to expand its reach beyond the US if successful.

Seneca is building an autonomous fire suppression system that includes autonomous suppression drones that carry 100 lbs, shoot with 100 PSI, and use AI to navigate and knock down fires, with the aim of cutting response times to under 10 minutes.

The aerial systems can be launched remotely, needing only an approximate fire location, with the intention striking before a small fire-start becomes a large wildfire. It also has the potential to support prescribed burns and fuel reduction efforts.

The California-based company’s mission is stated variously on its website “to protect…” or “to eliminate” the wildfire threat across 500 million acres in the US and “allied nations” by 2035.

Wildfire Today sought to clarify the concept of an “allied nation” and was informed by Seneca that it sought to serve nations and communities that shared common values. “We expect the western US to host our first deployment sites, and we are grateful to have active dialogue with partners in Canada, Chile and Australia.  We do expect to go to international markets in the coming years.”

Stuart Landesberg, founder and CEO of Seneca, believes that technology is central to that mission. “Our hope is to empower firefighters in situations that were previously impossible, unsafe, or inefficient. The American way of life has always been about pioneering. Technology is how we will protect communities, preserve our environment, and create a more resilient civilization.”

But the technology focus is not without the human touch, according to Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, the former US Fire Administrator, and now one of many advisors working with Seneca.

“These AI-powered drones don’t replace our brave men and women on the front lines; they amplify their capabilities while keeping them out of harm’s way. When a drone can deliver rapid water or retardant deployment without risking human life, we’re talking about a paradigm shift that will save both firefighter and civilian lives,” according to a Moore-Merrell statement on the company website.

Senaca’s mission is backed with $60 million led by Caffeinated Capital and Convective Capital with participation from First Round Capital, Transition DCVC, Offline Ventures, and others.

The company says it will use this funding to improve capabilities, harden the overall system, increase production, and roll out the first systems in the field during the 2026 US fire season.

“We have flown test, demonstration, and fuel reduction missions with dozens of fire agencies across CA and in four states.  We have never operated internationally but expect to go to international markets in the coming years,” the company told Wildfire Today.