XPRIZE has announced the teams advancing in its four-year, $11 million XPRIZE Wildfire competition, which seeks to develop new solutions for detecting and managing destructive wildfires. The announcement comes as wildfires continue to intensify globally, prompting action from governments and organizations.
The competition features two tracks focused on innovative technologies for wildfire detection and response. Teams were evaluated by a panel of experts in wildland firefighting, technology, and research. Semifinalists and finalists were recognized at the Esri Safety and Security Summit in San Diego, where professionals discussed advancements in real-time mapping for public safety.
Andrea Santy, XPRIZE Wildfire Program Director, said: “Wildfires are growing more frequent, more destructive, and more costly, and the status quo is no longer sustainable in a changing climate. The teams advancing to the next stages of XPRIZE Wildfire are showcasing the ingenuity we need not just to prepare for the future, but to help shape it.”
In-field testing will take place over the coming months as the operations team visits each Autonomous Semifinalist team location. Teams will demonstrate their autonomous wildfire response systems under real conditions. Testing results will be used for official judging with support from the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI). Space-Based Finalist teams may also participate in live-fire exercises with Australia’s New South Wales Rural Fire Service ahead of finals testing scheduled for early 2026.
Dr. Catherine Ball, PhD, XPRIZE Wildfire Advisory Board Member, stated: “Technology at its best is a force multiplier for good, and wildfire is exactly the kind of global challenge that demands bold, collaborative technological innovation. The teams advancing in XPRIZE Wildfire are proving that we don’t have to accept destruction as inevitable. This is what 21st-century climate resilience looks like: bold ideas, tested rigorously, and deployed at a planetary scale.”
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is a co-title sponsor of XPRIZE Wildfire along with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Other sponsors include Minderoo Foundation as presenting sponsor; Lockheed Martin as bonus prize sponsor; Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; Costa Navarino; American Family Insurance; Fairfax Financial; Roddenberry Foundation; and individual benefactors.
Andy Abranches, Vice President of Wildfire Mitigation at PG&E said: “At PG&E, we are committed to ending catastrophic wildfires, and within our service territory we have implemented mitigation initiatives that provide layers of protection. We work closely with innovators to adapt and adopt tools and technologies giving us new data, insights, visibility and capabilities to prevent fires and when necessary, limit their spread and size. We recognize the need to develop the technology of tomorrow and are excited about the new possibilities being unlocked by the XPRIZE Wildfire innovators who share our commitment to preventing catastrophic fires.”
Genny Biggs from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation commented: “We are inspired by the creativity and ingenuity the XPRIZE competitors are bringing to this big and urgent challenge. We all know the risks of wildfire and we need innovative and practical solutions. These advancing teams are putting the solutions we need into action.”
Robert Head from Lockheed Martin added: “At Lockheed Martin, we’re committed to harnessing the power of innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including the growing threat of wildfires. As an XPRIZE Wildfire bonus prize sponsor, we’re excited to recognize exceptional performance in accurate wildfire detection and support the development of cutting-edge technologies that can help save lives, protect communities, and preserve our natural resources.”
Winners in each track will receive $3.5 million at the end of 2026’s competition cycle while an additional $1 million bonus prize will be awarded for outstanding accuracy in wildfire detection.
A full list of semifinalist and finalist teams can be found on xprize.org/wildfire.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company serves over sixteen million people across Northern & Central California through its combined natural gas & electric utility operations (https://www.pge.com/). More information about PG&E’s activities can be found on its news page or innovation site.
