Incline Village, a Nevada community known for attracting wealthy residents, has launched a novel wildfire mitigation effort named "The Worm." The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is employing remote-controlled masticators to reduce potentially hazardous vegetation around the lakeside community.
This initiative aims to create a buffer zone between homes and the surrounding forest by clearing overgrown brush. The operation utilizes specialized equipment from BurnBot, which grinds down flammable vegetation up to 132 feet deep into public land adjacent to private properties. Officials state the remote operation allows for a broader view of the treated area and has a lower environmental impact compared to traditional methods.
The project, spanning a 176.5-acre treatment zone, is a collaborative effort between the Incline Village General Improvement District and state forestry officials, supported by a "Better Together Nevada Shared Stewardship" grant. Crews completed clearing 62.6 acres in July 2025 and are advancing through the second phase, with plans to complete the full perimeter by mid-September. The goal is not necessarily to halt fires completely but to reduce their intensity, making them more manageable for firefighters.
The deployment of these machines comes as the nearby Reno area has recently experienced significant wildfires, including the Bug and Stallion fires, which burned over 120,000 acres and led to evacuations.
Incline Village has seen an influx of affluent residents, partly due to Nevada's lack of an individual income tax. Notable figures associated with the area include Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Google co-founder Sergey Brin.