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Bridger Aerospace
American company providing aerial firefighting services From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bridger Aerospace is an American aerospace company which provides aerial firefighting and wildfire management services.[2] The company has supported firefighting efforts in 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.[3]
In January 2023, Bridger went public via SPAC merger with a valuation of $869 million.[4] The company has not been profitable since going public.[5]
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History
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The company was founded in 2014 by Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL who utilized airborne surveillance during his service.[6][7] Initially, Sheehy operated one plane to assist ranchers with tracking their cattle from the air.[2] He shifted the company's focus to aerial firefighting during the 2015 wildfire season.[8]
In 2018, Bridger was one of four companies awarded a contract with the United States Department of the Interior to use drones in emergency situations, including during wildfires.[9] It became the first private company to legally use drones for wildfire fighting during the Martin Fire in Nevada, mapping 435,000 acres of burned land in 11 flight runs.[2][9]
By August 2019 the company had grown to a fleet of 20 aircraft and a staff of 100.[10]
In March 2020, Bridger Aerospace offered its fleet to healthcare workers for moving supplies and patients as a response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.[11] The company also manufactured face shields that it donated to frontline workers and used its fleet to deliver other personal protection equipment to medical personnel throughout Montana.[12][13][14]
Bridger was the launch customer for the De Havilland CL-415EAF Firefighting Aircraft.[15]
In 2024, Tim Sheehy resigned as CEO to focus on his candidacy in the U.S. Senate election in Montana, which he later won.[5] On Monday, March 17th, Sam Davis was appointed CEO by the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment, Davis served as Interim CEO following Sheehy's resignation in July 2024.[16]
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Operations
The company is headquartered in Belgrade, Montana and provides aerial firefighting services to government agencies, including the United States Forest Service, across the U.S.[10] Its planes are used for fire suppression and it uses unmanned aerial vehicles to map and provide surveillance of fires.[2] The drones provide fire crews with information including infrared imagery of active fires, and support communication with and tracking of firefighters on the ground.[17]
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Fleet
As of 2021, the company's fleet includes over 20 aircraft, including:
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External links
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