Beyond Firefighting: Tahoe-Truckee Region’s Proactive Approach to Wildfire Prevention through BurnBot Technology

The Tahoe-Truckee region is taking a proactive approach to wildfire prevention with the implementation of BurnBot technology. The collaboration between the Tahoe Fund, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, and the Martis Fund is aimed at improving forest health and reducing the impact of wildfires on communities and the environment.

Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund, emphasized the importance of forest health as the top priority. Losing the forest would have detrimental effects on the entire community. To address this issue, BurnBot technology is being introduced by these agencies to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration.

Anukool Lakhina, CEO of BurnBot, highlighted that 90% of wildfires are human-caused and emphasized the importance of prevention. The BurnBot machine allows for the reduction of hazardous forest fuels using a remote control in steep slopes and dense vegetation areas. This proactive approach not only fortifies communities and critical infrastructure but also helps to protect sensitive habitats by removing dead vegetation before the threat of a destructive fire.

Ryan Gibson, Regional Manager of Northern California BurnBot explained that treating areas with BurnBot technology consumes 10 to 12 gallons of fuel a day, allowing crews to work efficiently without additional fuel supplies. Chief Ryan Sommers of North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District added that treating areas with BurnBot technology improves fire crews’ ability to suppress fires quickly significantly reducing their impact on communities and environments.

With this new technology in place, fire and community resource agencies in the Tahoe-Truckee region are taking a proactive approach to wildfire prevention while highlighting the importance of forest health and collaborative efforts to protect both communities and environments from harm caused by destructive wildfires.