Ridgewood Infrastructure acquires Dauntless Air, a provider of emergency management infrastructure for wildfire response

Type: Acquisition · Technology: Defense · Country: United States · Announced: 2026-06-15

Ridgewood Infrastructure, a U.S.-based lower middle market infrastructure investor, completed the acquisition of Dauntless Air, a market-leading aerial firefighting company specializing in emergency management infrastructure for wildfire response. Dauntless operates the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced fleet of Fire Boss aircraft, purpose-built Single Engine Scoopers (SES) designed for rapid wildfire suppression. The company deploys these aircraft, along with highly trained personnel and support equipment, under long-term government contracts for wildfire suppression services. Following the acquisition, Dauntless will continue to be led by Brett L’Esperance and the existing management team, with Ridgewood supporting investments in operational capabilities, customer partnerships, and strategic growth initiatives. The transaction expands Ridgewood’s emergency management infrastructure platform, with plans to pursue fleet growth, adjacent service offerings, and selective acquisitions to enhance wildfire response capacity. Dauntless has decades of performance history with federal and state government customers, supported by material barriers to entry including specialized aircraft, rigorous operational requirements, regulatory certifications, and highly trained personnel.

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