Finals testing begins next week for the Autonomous Wildfire Response Track of XPRIZE Wildfire, bringing some of the world’s most promising wildfire-fighting technologies to rural Alaska.
Over the coming days, finalist teams will deploy autonomous systems in rural Nenana, Alaska, just outside of Fairbanks, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Their challenge: rapidly detect, locate, and suppress wildfire ignitions without human intervention—demonstrating a future where destructive wildfires can be stopped before they spread beyond control.
The tests will evaluate each system’s speed, accuracy, autonomy, and suppression effectiveness under realistic field conditions. Finalist solutions integrate technologies including artificial intelligence, autonomous aircraft, advanced sensors, robotics, and novel suppression approaches.
The Autonomous Wildfire Response Track is one of two tracks within the $11 million XPRIZE Wildfire competition, which aims to revolutionize how humanity detects and combats destructive wildfires.
Testing for Track A, Space-Based Detection & Intelligence, concluded in New South Wales, Australia, in April.
Follow along as we share the latest developments from finals testing.
June 11, 2026 | 10:25 am PST
What to look for
Last week marked the beginning of the pre-deployment windows for teams participating in the XPRIZE Wildfire Autonomous Wildfire Response Track in Alaska.
Teams are currently arriving, unpacking their gear, surveying the testing site, and strategizing their deployment.
Official testing is set to commence on June 15.