Released at Red Sky Summit, new guide offers a tech-focused blueprint to better prepare communities for wildfire

As wildfire risk intensifies across the West, the Tahoe Fund and partners today unveiled the Fire Smart Community Pilot Playbook at the Red Sky Summit, a gathering of leaders focused on wildfire technology solutions.

The new Playbook captures the process and lessons from the Fire Smart Community Pilot in Tyrolian Village (Incline Village, Nevada) — a first-of-its-kind initiative launched in 2025 to create the most fire-ready community in Lake Tahoe. The Pilot brought together advanced modeling tools, wildfire researchers, local fire districts and homeowners to identify and implement the “mitigations that matter most” for reducing wildfire risk.

“The Fire Smart Community Pilot proves that when you combine the right people, technology and commitment, communities can dramatically increase their wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We were proud to launch this Playbook at the Red Sky Summit, where we know so many leaders gather to innovate on wildfire resiliency. We hope this can be a model they can take home to their communities.”

A Model for Action

Developed in partnership with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD), Tyrolian Village HOA, The Climate and Wildfire Institute, Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside, BurnBot, and Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, RockRose Risk and Tahoe Fund, the Pilot demonstrates how neighborhoods can integrate cutting-edge risk modeling, innovative techniques for mitigating risk, and homeowner engagement to measurably reduce fire danger.

Key outcomes to date include:

• 61 acres of fuel treatments completed in Tyrolian Village, including 34 acres treated by BurnBot in under one week.
• 228 home inspections conducted through Fire Aside, providing residents with personalized defensible-space and home-hardening recommendations.
• Four additional pilots launched across the Tahoe Basin in Nevada and California, expanding this collaborative model region-wide.
• Positive insurance results emerging, including a 33% premium reduction for the McCloud HOA in Incline Village following mitigation actions.

“Technology like Vibrant Planet’s modeling and Fire Aside’s inspections allowed us to prioritize high-impact mitigations quickly,” said NLTFPD Chief Ryan Sommers. “These tools empower fire districts and homeowners alike to make smarter, faster decisions that save both time and property.”

Lessons for Replication

The Playbook provides a step-by-step guide for communities to replicate the Pilot, emphasizing the importance of:

• Strong local leadership from fire districts and community champions;
• Early engagement of technology partners and researchers;
• Collaboration with insurers to align risk reduction with coverage. 

“This isn’t someone else’s project. It’s ours — our neighborhood, our homes, our future,” said Greg Erfani, President of the Tyrolian Village HOA. “By treating our forest, hardening our homes and stepping up together, we’re showing that real change happens when a community decides it will defend itself. We’re sharing our lessons so that other communities can learn what we learned.”

To download the Playbook or connect with project partners, visit tahoefund.org/firesmartpilot or email info@tahoefund.org.

Ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of this new feature off Mt. Rose Highway

There’s a new way to experience one of Tahoe’s most loved outdoor recreation spots. The Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp is officially open, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the stunning boardwalk trails just off Mt. Rose Highway.

“Accessibility is a key part of ensuring that everyone can enjoy the beauty of Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “This new ramp will help make Tahoe Meadows available to everyone, and we’re incredibly grateful to all of our partners and donors who helped make it happen.”

The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie. The ramp was built by Granite Construction in partnership with the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District. 

The idea for this new ramp was originally brought to the Tahoe Fund by Reno community member Roberta Ross. “For years, it has been my dream to make this ramp a reality, and now here we are,” said Ross. “My message to everyone is that you too can make a difference. If you have an idea to bring change to your community, you can make it happen.” 

At a ribbon cutting ceremony today, the partners and donors who made this project possible gathered to celebrate the opening of the new ramp. “This place provides a sense of connectivity with nature, especially for our northern Nevada community,” said Jesse Murray, sr. vice president of energy delivery at NV Energy and a member of the Tahoe Fund’s Forest Committee. “NV Energy Foundation is thrilled to bring this ramp to life alongside the Tahoe Fund as it ensures sustainable and inclusive outdoor recreation for generations to come.”

In addition to the new ramp, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District have also been replacing sections of the boardwalks that were due to be decommissioned. Together, these projects mark major improvements in the Tahoe Meadows that will help transform this area into a hub for outdoor accessibility in the Tahoe Basin. 

Entrance to boardwalks off Mt. Rose Highway is temporarily closed

Construction is now underway to build an accessibility ramp in the Tahoe Meadows off Mt. Rose Highway. This new ramp will help everyone, including those with mobility challenges, access more than half a mile of boardwalk trail. 

Crews from Granite Construction will be working in the area for the next few weeks. During this time, the stairs to the boardwalks will be closed. Visitors can still access the Meadows via the Ophir Creek Trail, also known as the Tahoe Rim Trail Connector. 

The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee (TMAR) on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie to make this project happen.

“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground on this major upgrade to such a popular place in this region,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The outpouring of support we’ve received to bring this project to life is a reflection of how much the community cares about ensuring Tahoe is a place for all to enjoy.”

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District are also working in this area to replace sections of the boardwalks that were due to be decommissioned. Together, these projects mark major improvements in the Tahoe Meadows that will help transform this area into a hub for outdoor accessibility in the Tahoe Basin. 

Learn more about this project at www.tahoefund.org/tahoemeadows. 

On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, the Tahoe Fund and Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation will livestream an ROV’s journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe, giving everyone the opportunity to watch in real time as it reaches a depth of 1,570 feet.

“Few people have had the opportunity to explore what’s under the surface of Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake in the U.S.,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We partnered with Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation and Martis Camp Foundation to fund a custom ROV capable of live streaming a journey to the bottom, giving people the chance to experience Lake Tahoe in a whole new way.”

Via a livestream that will be broadcast on the Tahoe Fund’s website, follow along as “Deep Emerald,” a custom ROV built by Restoring the Lake Depths, ventures to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. While the ROV descends, Tim Crandle, president of SeaView Systems will share more about the cutting-edge technology that made this journey possible and Sudeep Chandra, foundation professor of limnology at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability will unpack the secrets of why Tahoe’s famed waters are so clear. 

Featuring open-source electronics from Blue Robotics and Mission Robotics software, Deep Emerald was designed for underwater exploration. It is equipped with an 8-thruster system for maneuverability, four LED lights and a 4K Ultra HD camera with low-light sensitivity for high-resolution imaging. In addition to deep water exploration, Deep Emerald has been utilized to remove litter from the lake and help identify aquatic invasive species. 

“Deep Emerald is our flagship ROV, funded by Tahoe Fund and the Martis Camp Foundation and built for advanced underwater exploration,” said Lindsay Kopf, founder and executive director of Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation. “Its 600m fiber optic tether allows for deep-water exploration, making it a rare ROV capable of reaching the depths of Lake Tahoe’s deepest points.”

While Deep Emerald leads the way with its exceptional abilities, Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation’s full fleet of four ROVs, powered by technology from Blue Robotics and Mission Robotics, works in concert to achieve comprehensive lake monitoring and restoration. Each ROV is equipped with advanced cameras, sensors, and deep-water tools, enabling precise data collection, sample retrieval, and debris removal. 

Watch the livestream at www.tahoefund.org/deepdive starting at 9:30 a.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

The Tahoe Fund welcomes Scott Bensing, a U.S. Navy veteran with over 15 years of experience on Capitol Hill, to our Board of Directors. A high-ranking former Republican senior staff member, Bensing’s service has spanned the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and included developing federal policy and navigating legislative and regulatory challenges. As a board member, he will support the Tahoe Fund’s mission of improving the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

“Scott’s extensive experience in developing public policy and navigating the legislative process, his passion for Tahoe, and his long-standing commitment to community service make him an outstanding addition to the Tahoe Fund Board,” said Tahoe Fund Board Chair Verdi DiSesa. “We are grateful to work alongside him as we continue to seek out and fund environmental projects that will prevent catastrophic wildfire, improve the health of the Lake, and make it easier for people to get around, enjoy and take care of Tahoe.”

Bensing’s Capitol Hill experience began when he was a naval officer working as a congressional liaison officer to the U.S. Navy Secretary. As a civilian, he worked as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Senator John Ensign, and as Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, prior to starting SB Strategic Consulting, Inc. in 2009. He was instrumental in developing the legislation that has brought billions in public funding to Tahoe. 

Heavily involved in community efforts throughout his home state of Nevada, Bensing was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Tahoe Transportation District by Governor Joe Lombardo. He is also a past Chairman of the Nevada Military Support Alliance and currently serves on the board of PTSDNOW! and the Military Officers Association of America, Incline Village Chapter.

“The Tahoe Fund has had a tremendous impact as it relates to improving the beauty and experience of Lake Tahoe, and I’m happy to help contribute to its future efforts,” said Bensing. “I look forward to finding opportunities to leverage my professional expertise and passion in conjunction with a prestigious Board to benefit everyone who lives, works and visits this special place.”

Bensing holds a B.S. degree in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and a Masters degree in Public Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C.

See our full Board of Directors here.