Innovative Solutions for Wildfire Prevention in the Sierra Nevada

The Tinder Box of the Sierra Nevada

This region of the Sierra Nevada is a tinderbox, especially in early June when temperatures soar to a sweltering 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The air shimmers with heat, hovering over lifeless trees suffocated by dense underbrush. Within the Stanislaus National Forest, a network of logging roads snakes through towering firs and majestic ponderosa pines, leading to impressive 20-foot-tall burn piles — enormous heaps of scrap wood that are deemed unworthy of transport to sawmills. These piles are the result of diligent efforts by workers who are on the front lines of wildfire prevention: a timber crew tasked with thinning these vital woods in collaboration with a tech start-up that aims to revolutionize the operations of the heavy machinery they rely on.

The machines at the center of this operation are known as skidders. These formidable vehicles stand 10 feet tall, equipped with four massive wheels and a bulldozer-like blade at the front, along with a tree-sized grapple dangling from the back. They function as the industrious worker bees of the forest, meticulously hauling downed logs from deep within the woods to landing sites where the logs undergo delimbing before being loaded onto trucks destined for the sawmill. Typically, a single operator drives these machines for grueling 12-hour shifts, maneuvering them to pick up logs and transport them with efficiency and precision.

Engineers from Kodama Systems, a forward-thinking forest management company based in Sonora, California, have embarked on an innovative journey by modifying a skidder manufactured by John Deere. They have outfitted it with an array of cameras and radar technology, seamlessly integrating it into the internet. The outcome of this ambitious endeavor is a remote-controlled skidder capable of performing the labor-intensive tasks required by timber crews while learning to operate semi-autonomously. Utilizing advanced LiDar technology — which stands for light detection and ranging — the machine can effectively map the intricate landscape of the forest.

Indeed, skidders are the unsung heroes in the critical battle against wildfires.

The visionary behind Kodama, founder Merritt Jenkins, transitioned from a conventional engineering career to seek solutions to pressing challenges within the timber industry. His journey took him to Twain Harte two years ago, where he immersed himself in understanding the intricacies of forest management.

Joe Lerdal, serving as Kodama’s head of operations, brings a wealth of experience to the table. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, he spent his college summers working as a wildland firefighter, giving him firsthand insight into the urgent need for innovative solutions in forest management.

Kodama has successfully raised $12 million to fuel its mission, driven by the stark reality that a significant portion of our forest lands is currently overstocked with combustible materials, creating an imminent threat of ignition. Just a few hundred miles away from Stanislaus, a dramatic incident unfolded in early August when a man inadvertently drove a flaming car into a ditch, igniting the Park Fire. This catastrophic event resulted in a blaze that spanned an area larger than the city of Los Angeles, underscoring the critical need for proactive forest management strategies.