Energized by a donation, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s drone program now handles everything from search and rescue to fighting blazes and setting prescribed burns.

On a recent weekday in Aspen, Colorado, Stu Landesberg stood with a group of firefighters on a mountainside and watched a drone take off and fly toward a simulated fire. The drone detected the ...

Drones have attracted hobbyists, launched new sports, and are consistently ranked as a top Christmas gift for kids. But drones are also merging with government, and are changing how different agencies ...