Aspen Fire District to Deploy AI-Powered Autonomous Drones

- Each drone carries over 100 pounds of fire suppressant, which can be 12 gallons of water or a solution that creates 60 gallons of Class A foam, and dispenses it at pressures exceeding 100 PSI. A strike team of five drones can deliver 500 to 1,000 pounds of suppressant per mission. - The primary goal is to reduce the response time to under 10 minutes from detection, attacking fires when they are small and in hard-to-reach locations. Aspen Fire Chief Jake Andersen called the technology a "game changer" for fires on ridges that might otherwise take crews an hour or two to reach. - The drones can be launched from the back of a pickup truck and controlled via a tablet with just an approximate fire location. Onboard infrared sensors and AI models allow the drones to navigate autonomously, avoid obstacles, and locate the fire's hottest points. - The Aspen pilot program is being funded by private donors, including a partial contribution from the Hurd Family Foundation. While the full contract cost hasn't been disclosed, similar drones have been estimated to cost between $5,000 and $6,000 each. - This initiative continues Aspen Fire's history of adopting new technology; in 2021, the department was the first to test the Pano AI system, which uses cameras to detect smoke. - Seneca was founded by Stuart Landesberg, who previously founded the consumer products company Grove Collaborative. The company emerged from stealth mode in late 2025 with $60 million in funding and developed its technology in collaboration with several fire agencies, including the Aspen Fire Department. - Traditional manned helicopter firefighting operations can cost between $2,000 and $8,000 per flight hour, plus multi-million dollar annual standby fees. Seneca's drone-based service model aims to provide a more cost-effective alternative by eliminating pilot, fuel, and helipad expenses.