Incline Village, NV — The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), is initiating the Worm Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, a two-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety in the wildland-urban interface above Highway 431.
The project—named “The Worm” due to its winding, elongated shape. The project spans 142.6 acres of IVGID-owned land and is designed to create a 132-foot-wide buffer zone of intensively managed vegetation between forested areas and residential neighborhoods.
- Phase 1: Covers 64.5 acres, scheduled to begin the week of July 14, 2025, and be completed in 4 to 5 weeks.
- Phase 2: Will treat an additional 78.1 acres, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.
The primary objective is to reduce the brush component within the project area while retaining 10–15% of native brush to preserve the natural forest aesthetic and support wildlife habitat. This fuels break will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a wildfire, improving firefighter access and reducing fire intensity near homes.
Burnbot Inc., a wildfire risk reduction company, will begin working in the designated areas of the Worm Project starting July 14. Residents may notice remotely operated mastication machines which are extremely low impact will be utilized. Please do not be alarmed—these efforts are part of a planned and carefully managed wildfire mitigation strategy.
A map of the project area is available to the public and highlights the scope of both phases. The treatment corridor winds through key areas above Incline Village, reinforcing the region’s wildfire preparedness strategy.
For more information or to view the project map, please contact NLTFPD Forester Jason Furmaniak at
#####