They're Not Science Fiction Anymore
Let me be direct: if your department still thinks drones and robots are "future tech," you're already behind. According to data from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US firefighting drone market hit $302.7 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $638 million by 2033. The firefighting robots market? A 2025 GlobeNewsWire research report puts it at $2.82 billion in 2024 and on track to reach $8.98 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.12%. These aren't trade-show novelties collecting dust in some R&D lab. They're on the fireground. Right now.
I've spent the last six months tracking real deployments — from CAL FIRE's drone-assisted controlled burns to a Japanese flying firehose that sounds like it came out of a comic book (but absolutely works). Here's what this technology actually looks like in the field, what it costs, and what it means for your department.
Drones: Eyes in the Sky, Lives on the Ground
The killer app for firefighting drones isn't flashy. It's thermal imaging. A drone equipped with a thermal camera can map a structure fire's hot spots in minutes, identify victims in smoke-filled environments, and give incident commanders a real-time aerial view that no ladder truck can match. The data is compelling: thermal imaging drones have been shown to reduce direct firefighter exposure by up to 30%.
That's not an incremental improvement. That's a fundamental shift in how we manage risk on the fireground.
CAL FIRE's Expanded Drone Operations
CAL FIRE extended its drone operations program in 2025, deploying unmanned aerial systems for controlled burns with aerial ignition capability. Here's what that means in plain terms: instead of sending a crew with drip torches through thick brush on a hillside — work that's physically punishing and occasionally deadly — a drone drops incendiary spheres with precision from above.
The drones handle the ignition pattern while ground crews focus on containment lines. It's faster, it's safer, and it gives burn bosses a level of control that manual ignition simply can't match. CAL FIRE has reported improved burn pattern accuracy and significantly reduced crew exposure during prescribed fire operations.
What Departments Should Know
Semi-autonomous drone systems account for 48% of the US market. That means these platforms handle much of the flight management themselves — waypoint navigation, obstacle avoidance, return-to-home protocols. You don't need a commercial pilot on staff, though FAA Part 107 certification is still required for the operator.
The price range has dropped dramatically. A capable thermal-imaging drone package suitable for structural firefighting support starts around $15,000 to $25,000 — less than a set of turnout gear for a full crew. For departments weighing the investment, that's the comparison to make: one tool that extends the capability of every crew on scene.
If you're a 911 dispatcher, this affects your world too. As drone deployment becomes standard, dispatchers are increasingly involved in coordinating airspace deconfliction and drone launch protocols during multi-agency responses.
Robots: From the Lab to the Nozzle
The robot side of the equation is where things get genuinely exciting. AI is now integrated into 62% of new firefighting robot products, enabling capabilities that would have seemed absurd five years ago: autonomous navigation through collapsed structures, real-time hazard detection, and coordinated team operations between multiple robotic units.
Unitree Robotics: The Quadruped That Fights Fire
Unitree Robotics has deployed a quadruped fire robot — yes, a four-legged robot that walks into burning buildings — with a water delivery capacity of 40 liters per minute at a range of 60 meters. It can navigate stairs, step over debris, and operate in environments where temperatures would incapacitate a human firefighter within seconds.
The quadruped form factor matters. Tracked robots get stuck on stairs. Wheeled robots can't handle rubble. A four-legged platform moves through a building the way a person does — and it doesn't need an SCBA, it doesn't experience heat stress, and it doesn't have a family waiting at home.
DEEP Robotics: Robot Dog Teams
DEEP Robotics has taken the concept further with teams of robot dogs deployed for coordinated disaster response. Multiple units work together to search a collapsed structure, sharing sensor data in real time and building a composite map of the environment. One unit identifies a victim; another clears a path; a third delivers a medical kit or communication device.
This is the practical application of swarm robotics, and it's not theoretical. These systems have been demonstrated in live disaster response exercises with measurable improvements in search time and area coverage compared to human-only teams.
Japan's Dragon Firefighter
And then there's Japan's contribution, which deserves its own paragraph because it's genuinely remarkable. The Dragon Firefighter is a flying firehose. That's not a metaphor. It's a hose system propelled by eight water jets that allow it to fly and direct water onto fires in high-rise buildings and industrial facilities that are difficult or impossible to reach with conventional aerial streams.
The system was developed by researchers at Tohoku University and the National Institute of Technology, and it solves a real problem: how do you put water on a fire on the 15th floor of a building when your ladder only reaches the 10th? You send the hose up by itself. The Dragon Firefighter can navigate through windows and around obstacles, delivering water precisely where it's needed.
CES 2026: Robots Take Center Stage
The Smart Firefighting Robot won the CES 2026 Innovation Award, which matters not because of the trophy but because of what it signals. CES is the consumer electronics show — the fact that firefighting robotics is winning awards there means the broader technology industry is paying attention and investing. That's what drives prices down and capability up.
The award-winning system integrated autonomous navigation, thermal sensing, and suppression capability into a single platform small enough to deploy from a standard engine company. That's the threshold: when a robot fits into your existing operational workflow without requiring a specialized team to operate it.
The Integration Challenge
Here's where I put on my realist hat. Technology is only as good as the people and systems that deploy it. The biggest obstacle to drone and robot adoption isn't the hardware — it's training, maintenance, policy, and cultural acceptance.
Training Requirements
Every member who might operate a drone needs FAA Part 107 certification. Robot operators need hands-on training specific to their platform. And the entire department — from the chief to the newest probie — needs to understand how these tools fit into incident management. That means updating your SOPs, running tabletop exercises, and doing live drills with the actual equipment.
Maintenance and Reliability
Drones and robots are electromechanical systems. They break. Batteries degrade. Sensors need calibration. Software needs updates. Departments that buy a drone and stick it on a shelf without a maintenance program will find a dead battery when they need it most. Treat these tools like any other piece of apparatus: regular inspection, documented maintenance, and clear accountability for readiness.
Policy and Legal Frameworks
Airspace regulations, privacy concerns, data management, liability — these aren't glamorous topics, but they'll determine whether your drone program survives its first controversy. Work with your legal counsel and your jurisdiction's emergency management office to establish clear policies before you launch your first mission.
What This Means for Fire Service Careers
The rise of drones and robots isn't replacing firefighters. Let me be absolutely clear about that. What it's doing is creating new specializations within the fire service. Drone operators. Robot technicians. Data analysts who interpret thermal imaging and sensor feeds. These are new roles that require new skills — and they represent career opportunities for firefighters who want to expand their capabilities.
If you're exploring a fire service career, understanding this technology is increasingly valuable. Departments are looking for candidates who can bridge the gap between traditional firefighting skills and emerging technology. That's a competitive advantage in hiring, and it's a growth path within your department.
The Bottom Line for Your Department
Here's my honest assessment of where things stand in early 2026:
- Drones are ready now. The technology is mature, the costs are manageable, and the operational benefits are well-documented. If your department doesn't have a drone program, start one this year. Begin with thermal imaging for structure fires and scene documentation.
- Ground robots are close. The technology works, but integration into standard fire operations is still evolving. Departments with hazmat, technical rescue, or industrial fire responsibilities should be evaluating platforms now. Everyone else should be watching closely.
- AI integration is accelerating. With 62% of new robot products incorporating AI, autonomous and semi-autonomous capability will become the default within two to three years. Plan your training and policy frameworks accordingly.
- Budget the ongoing costs. The purchase price is just the beginning. Budget for training, maintenance, batteries, insurance, and replacement cycles. A realistic five-year total cost of ownership is three to four times the initial purchase price.
Looking Ahead
The firefighting technology landscape is shifting faster than at any point in the history of the fire service. The departments that thrive will be the ones that adopt deliberately — not chasing every new gadget, but making strategic investments in proven tools that reduce risk and improve outcomes.
Drones and robots won't replace the courage and judgment of a firefighter. But they can keep that firefighter alive long enough to use both. And in this business, that's the only metric that matters.
For more on how technology is changing the fire service, check out our latest articles. And if this world interests you, explore the full range of fire service career paths — including roles you might not have considered.