Thunder Wasp Drones Tested In B.C. To Tackle Extreme Wildfire Conditions

British Columbia is exploring cutting-edge wildfire technology with the testing of Thunder Wasp drones, aiming to revolutionize how wildfires are managed in the province’s rugged terrain.

Following the devastation of the 2023 Downton Lake wildfire — one of Canada’s worst fire seasons on record — aerospace engineer Alex Deslauriers teamed up with communications expert Melanie Bitner and former wildfire warden David Thanh to form Fireswarm Solutions. The company has partnered with Strategic Natural Resource Group, an Indigenous-owned emergency response firm, to test the heavy-lift drones in B.C.’s Squamish Valley.

Manufactured in Sweden by ACC Innovations and modified in Canada to be "fire-ready," the Thunder Wasp drones are capable of lifting 400 kg each and flying for up to two hours. With AI-driven swarm technology and high-precision water-bucketing, they can operate during night hours — when helicopters are grounded and fires often intensify.

“These drones address a critical gap in night-time wildfire suppression,” says Deslauriers. “No one else is using this combination of heavy-lift capacity and advanced sensor integration.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service is closely monitoring the trials, which could pave the way for the drones to be fully operational by the 2026 fire season.

If successful, this drone technology could dramatically enhance firefighting capabilities in Canada and beyond — offering faster, safer, and smarter wildfire response.

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Source: CBC News

Photo Credit: AI/Melanie Bitner/Brian Aikens