South Bay leaders find innovative solutions for wildfire dangers: Meet BurnBot

LOS GATOS, Calif. (KGO) -- It may have been a mild summer temperature wise, but it has also been a dry one, and that bodes for potential issues as the Bay Area heads into fire season.

Now, some South Bay leaders are getting innovative to find solutions to decrease risk -- like BurnBot. It's an innovation, created by a San Jose native, that aims to make forest management safer and easier.

This was one of the demonstrations in Los Gatos Wednesday, showcasing ways leaders say we can make our community more fire safe. In just five days, two operators with two of the remote-controlled vegetation masticators, can do the work that a forty-person crew would need six weeks to accomplish.

"The question really is, how can you take our existing hand crews and amplify them with this?" BurnBot CEO Anukool Lakhina said. "This will dramatically increase the pace and scale and that's where technology, when applied with intention, can actually amplify human capacity -- to get more acres done safely, ecologically, effectively."

MORE: Stanford University burn control experiment could help ecosystem, cut fire risk in years to come

Technology is nice, but not everyone has the luxury to own their own robot.

These experts say some of the best ways to prevent fire starts with you.

The FireSafe Council offers ignition zone inspections for homeowners throughout Santa Clara County.

Fire crews say simple steps, like keeping the first five feet of your home clear, can save your home from wildfires.

MORE: Gov. Gavin Newsom calls on Pres. Donald Trump to devote more resources to fighting wildfires

"Wildfire is everybody's challenge," Santa Clara County FireSafe Council CEO Seth Schalet said. "We can't just lie on the men and women of CAL FIRE and those behind us. If you live in the wildland interface, you need to roll up your sleeves and do your part, not just to protect yourself, but to protect your neighbor."

Congressman Sam Liccardo, who was on hand for the demonstrations, recognizes even he has a role in wildfire protection.

On Wednesday, Liccardo announced the Wildfire Resilience Partnership -- an initiative that brings the federal government's resources to town's like this and projects like BurnBot. He says this will help the Bay Area prepare for wildfires and the funding to fight them.

"While the money may not be available this week or this month, if we're working together to get an environmental clearance on critical projects, to get permitting, to make sure we're prioritizing the biggest impact projects regionally, the communities that are ready for this funding are the ones that get the funding and move first," Liccardo said.