BurnBot

BurnBot builds and operates systems for scaling fuel treatment to prevent destructive wildfires 🔥

BurnBot is a venture-backed technology start-up developing state-of-the-art wildland fire and forestry technology to scale wildfire mitigation efforts and prevent catastrophic wildfires. Our mission is to scale wildfire mitigating fuel treatments, through the use of technology, to protect against the risk of catastrophic wildfires by utilizing our unique ecosystem of wildfire and forestry technologies. The BurnBot technology ecosystem is designed to maximize operational capacity and augment existing capabilities, enabling fire practitioners to accomplish more and reach their treatment goals, especially in sensitive areas near population centers, critical infrastructure, and the wildland-urban interface, fortifying neighborhoods, communities, and the ecosystem against the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

09/09/2026

NICC’s September 1 wildfire outlook is out. Oregon/Washington and northern-eastern California stay above normal significant fire potential this month. Southern California, Arizona/New Mexico, and Montana sit near/normal, although the Southwest is still shaking off lingering drought and dry fuels early on.

Nationally, 2026 acreage burned is running at 166% of the 10-year average, with drought covering nearly 57% of the country.
Above normal or not, fuel reduction work doesn’t pause.

Source: NIFC/NICC National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, 9/1/2026: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks

09/07/2026

Prescribed fire implementation is hard work.

On this Labor Day we’d like to give extra thanks to our incredible team here at BurnBot. We are grateful for your time, effort, and dedication to protecting homes, infrastructure, and landscapes before disaster strikes.

We’re hiring for the 2027 burn season. We need operators, crew leads, and field technicians. Link in bio to join the crew.

burnbot.com/careers

08/21/2026

Four regions, one theme this season: dry fuels meeting a fire year with little margin for error.

Per NIFC/NICC’s latest seasonal outlook, Arizona and New Mexico carry above-normal fire potential in August as monsoon moisture lags in western pockets, easing toward normal by October.

Northern California’s mountains and northeastern zones stay above normal through September as drought deepens in the state’s far northwest.

Southern California holds near normal, with dryness lingering near the Colorado River.

Oregon and Washington face above-normal potential across the board into September amid persistent severe-to-extreme drought.

Montana’s northern and western reaches — some areas under 20% of normal moisture — carry that same elevated signal into fall.

Nationally, over 7.5 million acres have burned so far this year, well above the 10-year average. This is the landscape proactive fuels work and prescribed fire are built for.

Full outlook linked below — source: NIFC/NICC National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook (Aug 2026) and NIFC fire statistics (as of Aug. 21).

08/20/2026

Stephen Fillmore, PhD, has joined BurnBot as our Senior Director of Fire Programs.

Stephen spent 23 years with the US Forest Service, most recently as R5 Regional Fuels Operations Specialist. He earned his doctorate from the University of Idaho, studying how wildfire management decisions are made, and has advised BurnBot since 2025.

At BurnBot, he leads our fire organization: prescribed fire delivery, fire response programs, and the training and standards behind putting good fire on the ground safely.

Welcome, Stephen!

08/17/2026

Aaron Bailey has joined BurnBot as our VP of Engineering.

Aaron was among the first 100 vehicle engineers at Tesla and went on to engineering leadership at Lucid, NIO, and Rivian. He led autonomous equipment development as VP of Engineering at Monarch Tractor and built autonomous ground robotics at DoorDash.

This work is personal for him. Aaron's family lost their home in the Carr Fire, and he lives in Grass Valley today, managing vegetation on his own property.

At BurnBot he leads engineering and our technology roadmap, scaling our RX systems and advancing autonomy across the fleet. Welcome, Aaron.

07/24/2026

Thousand Oaks: fuel reduction in Southern California’s urban wildland interface.

We’re creating defensible space, targeting heavy fuel loads in difficult terrain and clearing brush with precision hand work and the right tools for the job.

Technology, data, and skilled operators are building resilient landscapes across SoCal.

07/21/2026

Meet Cody Marshall, Operations Foreman at BurnBot.

Cody has been with BurnBot for almost three years, beginning as an Operator and growing into his role as Operations Foreman.
No two weeks look the same for Cody. One day he may be planning projects, the next he’s leading his crew in the field, troubleshooting equipment, or adjusting plans when conditions change.

His adaptability and the pride he has in his crew really stands out. When plans shift, he values the way the team communicates, adjusts, and works together to get the job done safely.

We’re grateful to have Cody as part of the BurnBot team.

Swipe through to hear more from Cody in his own words.

07/16/2026

Wildfire resilience starts long before smoke is in the air.
BurnBot Inc Head of Growth, Ford Ainslie, recently joined NPR On Point to discuss how technology is changing the way we reduce wildfire risk - from reactive response to proactive fuels management.

As communities face longer fire seasons and growing wildfire risk, innovative approaches to vegetation management are becoming increasingly important. We’re proud to be part of the conversation around building safer, more resilient landscapes through scalable, precision fuels treatment.

Thank you to the On Point team for highlighting this important topic.

Listen to the conversation here:

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2026/07/10/ai-firefighters-combat-wildfires

07/09/2026

Meet Sierra Region’s Superintendent, Dusty Scott. He joined BurnBot back in October 2025, bringing with him years of hands-on forestry experience.

We asked Dusty some questions about his experience here at BurnBot, and what stood out most was the way he leads his crew. From early-morning briefings to relationships formed in the field, Dusty leads with a coach’s mindset, focused on communication, encouragement, accountability, and helping people grow.

Take a moment and swipe through to hear more from Dusty in his own words.

We’re proud to spotlight Dusty and grateful for the experience and leadership he brings to BurnBot!

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day from BurnBot 🇺🇸

We are grateful for the landscapes that make this country extraordinary, and for the people who work every day to manage and protect them.

Address

340 Shaw Road
San Francisco, CA
94080

Telephone

+14084620791

Website

http://www.burnbot.com/

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