Coco Liu of Bloomberg reports on a new technology that makes it easier to conduct prescribed burns.
- BurnBot, a San Francisco-based startup, has developed a tank-like robot that conducts controlled burns to manage wildfire risk, offering a flameless and smokeless alternative to traditional prescribed burn methods.
- The robot reduces manpower needs, minimizes the risk of fire spreading, and eliminates smoke, making it attractive for use in areas where traditional controlled burns are risky or prohibited.
- BurnBot’s technology is part of a growing “fire tech” sector aimed at preventing, detecting, and suppressing wildfires, with the company planning to expand its services to more U.S. states, Canada, and Australia.
“Prescribed or controlled burns — fighting fire with fire — have long been used by indigenous groups to manage wildfire risk. Clearing excess vegetation reduces a forest’s fuel load, making it less likely a blaze will break out or spread quickly. But it’s a manpower-intensive process. BurnBot’s June burn covered an area the size of an American football field using a five-member crew; Chiverton says the same job sans robot would have needed 10 people.”
Read the full article here.
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