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8 August 2025
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Technology: Revolutionary drone technology for battling wildfires takes major step forward with new partnership
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In a partnership aimed at revolutionizing wildfire response, Strategic Natural Resource Group (Strategic) and FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (FireSwarm) have joined forces to make automated aerial fire suppression a reality in Canada.
With wildfires escalating in frequency and severity, innovative solutions are urgently needed to support firefighters and protect communities. This collaboration combines Strategic’s expertise in emergency response management with FireSwarm’s first-of-its kind wildfire defence platform, which integrates surveillance, ultra heavy-lift drones, and AI-driven swarm technology. The partnership will focus on Canadian distribution, deployment and operator training.
Strategic, the largest Indigenous-owned natural resource consulting group in BC, has supplied wildfire crews to support provincial government firefighting efforts for more than a decade.
“We see this unique opportunity to combine our expertise with firefighting and remote aircraft operation in resource management to make a monumental improvement in early attack opportunities,” said Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO, Strategic Natural Resource Group. “Extending our operations to nighttime is an intuitively efficient and generational leap in safety for communities and infrastructure threatened by wildfire.”
FireSwarm is a BC wildfire technology startup pioneering autonomous aerial fire suppression solutions using ultra heavy-lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). Designed to operate in conditions when traditional aircraft cannot, it fills critical gaps in wildfire response.
“First Nations, wildfire crews, communities, and ultimately families will be safer once our services are approved and ready for deployment in Canada.” said Alex Deslauriers, CEO of FireSwarm. “This BC-based collaboration represents a true step change in wildland firefighting. Together, we’re advancing technology that has the potential to become a standard tool in the field—especially in the currently underserved areas of night and remote wildfire attack.”
The swarm technology is being tested in multiple locations across Canada this summer, with the goal of FireSwarm and Strategic delivering this solution in 2026.
Photo1: From left to right: Aaron Fujikawa, Director Geomatics & Remote Sensing at Strategic; Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO of Strategic; Melanie Bitner, Co-founder and CMO at FireSwarm; Alex Deslauriers, Founder & CEO of FireSwarm; Chris Gillen, Head of Business Development at FireSwarm. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group)
Photo2: Equipped with up to 400kg payload capacity, FireSwarm is automating and outfitting ACC Innovation Thunder Wasp autonomous drones to detect hotspots and execute precise water drops—even in remote areas and during nighttime operations. Image by: FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group)
Source: News Wire
With wildfires escalating in frequency and severity, innovative solutions are urgently needed to support firefighters and protect communities. This collaboration combines Strategic’s expertise in emergency response management with FireSwarm’s first-of-its kind wildfire defence platform, which integrates surveillance, ultra heavy-lift drones, and AI-driven swarm technology. The partnership will focus on Canadian distribution, deployment and operator training.
Strategic, the largest Indigenous-owned natural resource consulting group in BC, has supplied wildfire crews to support provincial government firefighting efforts for more than a decade.
“We see this unique opportunity to combine our expertise with firefighting and remote aircraft operation in resource management to make a monumental improvement in early attack opportunities,” said Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO, Strategic Natural Resource Group. “Extending our operations to nighttime is an intuitively efficient and generational leap in safety for communities and infrastructure threatened by wildfire.”
FireSwarm is a BC wildfire technology startup pioneering autonomous aerial fire suppression solutions using ultra heavy-lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). Designed to operate in conditions when traditional aircraft cannot, it fills critical gaps in wildfire response.
“First Nations, wildfire crews, communities, and ultimately families will be safer once our services are approved and ready for deployment in Canada.” said Alex Deslauriers, CEO of FireSwarm. “This BC-based collaboration represents a true step change in wildland firefighting. Together, we’re advancing technology that has the potential to become a standard tool in the field—especially in the currently underserved areas of night and remote wildfire attack.”
The swarm technology is being tested in multiple locations across Canada this summer, with the goal of FireSwarm and Strategic delivering this solution in 2026.
Photo1: From left to right: Aaron Fujikawa, Director Geomatics & Remote Sensing at Strategic; Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO of Strategic; Melanie Bitner, Co-founder and CMO at FireSwarm; Alex Deslauriers, Founder & CEO of FireSwarm; Chris Gillen, Head of Business Development at FireSwarm. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group)
Photo2: Equipped with up to 400kg payload capacity, FireSwarm is automating and outfitting ACC Innovation Thunder Wasp autonomous drones to detect hotspots and execute precise water drops—even in remote areas and during nighttime operations. Image by: FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group)
Source: News Wire