INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (May 21, 2025) – In recognition of Wildfire Awareness Month, a coalition of wildfire experts, technology companies, energy providers, and nonprofits launched a groundbreaking pilot project aimed at creating the most wildfire-ready community in the Lake Tahoe region. The Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot is taking place in the Tyrolian Village HOA, a neighborhood encompassing 228 homes across 60 acres in Incline Village, Nevada that has been identified as a high priority wildfire area by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
The pilot is leveraging new technology to identify which mitigations matter the most, while informing insurance outcomes and demonstrating how comprehensive wildfire defense can be implemented and replicated across Tahoe and the West. During a demonstration today, the public was able to see a remote-operated masticator from BurnBot remove hazardous fuels in the neighborhood up to five feet from homes. Attendees also heard from a panel of experts on how the project came together and the science and strategy behind it. Watch the panel discussion here.
“We’ve proactively treated thousands of acres in Incline Village and Crystal Bay through hazardous fuels mitigation, including direct collaboration with the Tyrolian Village HOA on their reduction plan,” said North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Ryan Sommers. “Wildfire risk is always evolving, and this pilot program allows us to enhance our efforts using the latest technology, advanced modeling, and parcel-specific strategies to further strengthen community safety.”
In addition to using BurnBot’s remote-operated technology to safely and efficiently reduce fire-prone vegetation in residential environments, the pilot will make use of data-driven strategies, modeling and insights from Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside and Colorado State University’s Dr. Hussam Mahmoud. The comprehensive nature of the project also includes a series of connected wildfire mitigation efforts across public lands and utility corridors, and a partnership with Wildfire Services Group for the completion of home hardening work based on data from Fire Aside.
“This initiative has the potential to fundamentally change how communities approach wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund, the project’s convener. “We’re combining cutting-edge modeling and state-of-the-art technology with on-the-ground mitigation on public lands, NV Energy’s utility corridor, and in the neighborhood to create a replicable blueprint that can save lives, protect property, and preserve natural resources, while informing insurance outcomes.”
The pilot includes seven phases, of which the first two are already underway:
1.Baseline Risk Modeling & Assessment: Using advanced modeling tools from Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside, BurnBot, and Colorado State University’s Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, baseline risk and treatment needs are being established at both the community and parcel levels. Additionally, RockRose Risk is assessing insurance-relevant risk metrics.
2.Neighborhood-Scale Vegetation Treatment: BurnBot and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District are executing prioritized fuels reduction treatments on 35 acres, complementing prior work on 22 acres of hand-thinning already conducted in the HOA.
3.Post-Treatment Risk Assessment: Over the summer, the project team will re-run risk models to quantify how vegetation treatments reduced wildfire risk.
4.Parcel-Level Mitigation & Home Hardening: Using science-backed data and direct engagement with residents, the team will prioritize the most hazardous properties and partner with homeowners to harden their homes against wildfire. Wildfire Services Group will work with the HOA and homeowners to provide expedited contractor services and do the work.
5.Risk Reduction Measurement & Insurance Engagement: In the fall, the team will re-run models to quantify risk reduction for homeowners, public agencies, and insurers, with the goal of encouraging insurance coverage and incentives tied to mitigation outcomes.
6.Long-term Mitigation & Maintenance Planning: The HOA and project partners will develop a long-term plan to maintain risk reduction and continue mitigation efforts.
7.Model Scaling & Knowledge Sharing: A comprehensive, replicable framework will be developed to help other communities adopt similar strategies across Tahoe and the Western U.S.
“This pilot program will provide critical fire safety benefits and serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved through the collaboration between communities, government agencies, and corporate partners,” said Greg Erfani, Tyrolian Village HOA Board President. “Our goal is to create a fire safety-aware community focused on preparedness and risk reduction. By taking proactive steps, we hope to demonstrate to insurers that communities like ours are effectively mitigating wildfire risk.”
Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot Partners include the Tahoe Fund, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, the Tyrolian Village Homeowners Association, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), BurnBot, Vibrant Planet, Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, Fire Aside, NV Energy, RockRose Risk, Climate and Wildfire Institute, Wildfire Services Group, and social scientist Natalie Bennett.
Learn more at www.tahoefund.org/inclinefiresmartpilot.
About the Tahoe Fund
The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit founded in 2010 to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance sustainable recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation, and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of its donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $30 million in private funds to secure more than $200 million in public funds for more than 220 environmental projects. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.
About the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Teams (TFFT) is a coalition of agencies dedicated to wildfire prevention, environmental stewardship, and public education on living in the wildland urban interface. Member organizations include local fire agencies, local, state, and federal land management agencies from California and Nevada, the University of Nevada and University of California Cooperative Extensions, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, and other supporting entities responsible for managing and protecting the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The mission of the TFFT is to protect lives, property, and the environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuel reduction projects and engage the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community. For more information, please visit: https://www.tahoelivingwithfire.com/about/