CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
WILDFIRE MITIGATION VEGETATION REDUCTION SERVICES
FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 19
Invitation No. FD-26-004
TECHNICAL & COST PROPOSAL
May 13, 2026, 5:00 PM
Submitted to:
Kirsten Gallacher, [email protected]
POC: Ford Ainslie, Director of Partnerships & Growth
310 Shaw Road, Suite D, South San Francisco, CA 94080
[email protected] | (516) 669-7353
Attachment 2
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1. COVER LETTER AND STATEMENT OF INTEREST 2
2. CONTRACTOR BUSINESS INFORMATION 3
3. EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTOR’S TEAM 3
Company Background 3
Relevant Project Experience 4
Qualifications / Certifications 4
Key Personnel 4
Subcontractors 6
4. APPROACH / METHODOLOGY 6
Overview 6
Pre-Mobilization 6
Treatment Methodology 7
Environmental Compliance 8
Erosion Control 8
Safety 8
Proposed Schedule 9
5. REFERENCES / PROJECT HISTORY 9
6. PROPOSED COST FILE 11
Table 1 – Field Personnel 11
Table 2 – Project Management 11
7. OTHER INFORMATION 12
Large Hazard Tree Removal Capability 12
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1. COVER LETTER AND STATEMENT OF INTEREST
May 13, 2026
Kirsten Gallacher, Senior Administrative Analyst
Laguna Beach Fire Department
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Re: Proposal Submission – Invitation No. FD-26-004, Wildfire Mitigation Vegetation Reduction Services
Dear Ms. Gallacher and Members of the Evaluation Committee, BurnBot, Inc. (BurnBot) is pleased to submit this proposal in response to the City of Laguna Beach’s Request for Proposals for Wildfire Mitigation Vegetation Reduction Services within Fuel Modification Zone 19 (Diamond Crestview). We are a California-based comprehensive wildfire mitigation company with over 20,000 acres treated across the Western United States, and we are fully prepared to deliver safe, effective, and environmentally responsible fuel modification across FMZ 19’s approximately 26.9 acres.
Key Elements of Our Proposal
BurnBot proposes deploying a 15-person trained hand crew to implement the City’s prescribed mosaic treatment approach. Our scope includes precision thinning, pruning, and lop-and-scatter techniques to reduce vegetation cover to the targeted ~50% while maintaining ecological integrity and strict compliance with the City's Fuel Modification Treatment Protocols and Coastal Act requirements. We anticipate completing the project within 10–15 working days, well within the agreement performance period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and we are prepared to mobilize immediately upon authorization.
Statement of Interest
BurnBot is deeply committed to protecting communities in the Wildland-Urban Interface, and Southern California represents one of the most critical and personal regions in which we operate.
Laguna Beach is exactly the kind of coastal community we were built to serve — high-stakes, environmentally complex, and deeply embedded in the wildland edge where the consequences of inaction are measured in homes and lives. Protecting communities like this one is not peripheral to our mission; it is our mission.
FMZ 19's steep coastal slopes, sensitive biological resources, Coastal Act permitting requirements, and proximity to residential neighborhoods demand a contractor with the precision, regulatory fluency, and field experience to execute without incident. That is precisely what BurnBot delivers. Fuels management in community interface settings — navigating access constraints, biological exclusion zones, mosaic treatment requirements, and homeowner coordination — is not a niche capability for us. It is our core competency, and it is the work we do every day across California and the Western United States. 2 281
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Southern California's communities face some of the highest wildfire risk in the nation, and BurnBot has made serving those communities a strategic priority. Our established presence across the region enables rapid mobilization and a team that understands local terrain, regulatory frameworks, and the neighborhoods we are working to protect. We bring not just technical expertise, but a genuine investment in the long-term fire resilience of the communities we serve — and we would be proud to make Laguna Beach one of them.
Sincerely,
Ford Ainslie
Director of Partnerships & Growth
BurnBot, Inc.
2. CONTRACTOR BUSINESS INFORMATION
Offeror Information Table
Business Name BurnBot, Inc.
Headquarter Address 310 Shaw Road, Suite D
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Regional Hub Address 165 Durley Ave
Camarillo, CA 93010
Primary Point of Contact Ford Ainslie, Director of Partnerships & Growth (516) 669-7353
[email protected]
CA Contractor’s License No. 1140821 (C-49)
DIR Public Works Registration Registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations – Registration No. 2000007540
3. EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTOR’S TEAM
Company Background
BurnBot, Inc. brings demonstrated expertise in fuel modification and WUI vegetation management directly applicable to the FMZ19 project. Founded in 2020, BurnBot has treated over 20,000 acres across California, Oregon, Nevada, and the broader Western United States, establishing itself as a trusted partner for federal agencies, state programs, local governments, fire districts, and utilities seeking to reduce wildfire risk at scale.
Our deep experience performing vegetation management in residential hillside communities directly aligns with the scope and complexity of this project. BurnBot has successfully executed fuel modification in steep, access-constrained environments comparable to FMZ 19's Diamond 3 282
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Crestview corridor, navigating biological exclusion zones, mosaic pattern treatment requirements, homeowner coordination, and strict regulatory compliance — including work subject to Coastal Act and CEQA constraints.
BurnBot's operational philosophy — deploying "the right tool, for the right acre, at the right time" — ensures each project receives the most appropriate treatment methodology based on terrain, vegetation type, environmental constraints, and client objectives. For FMZ 19, this means a hand crew-first approach that prioritizes precision, ecological integrity, and full compliance with the City's established treatment protocols.
Relevant Project Experience
BurnBot has successfully executed fuel modification and WUI vegetation management projects across steep, environmentally sensitive terrain throughout California, with experience directly applicable to the FMZ19 scope. Our team has demonstrated ability to navigate the specific challenges present in this project, including:
→ Fuel modification in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) adjacent to residential structures
→ Mosaic pattern treatment implementation to reduce horizontal and vertical fuel continuity while preserving ecological character
→ Lop-and-scatter and precision thinning in steep and access-constrained terrain → Coordination with City-designated biologists and strict observance of pre-construction survey findings, flagged exclusion zones, and species buffers → Compliance with Coastal Act and CEQA requirements in environmentally sensitive zones → No-herbicide operations as required by project specifications → Community-sensitive project delivery in established, high-visibility residential neighborhoods where crew conduct, site presentation, and neighbor relations are held to the highest standard
Qualifications / Certifications
BurnBot is fully licensed and registered to perform the scope of services required under this Agreement. Our C-49 Tree Service Contractor license directly qualifies BurnBot to execute the hand crew operations, chainsaw work, and biomass management activities central to the FMZ 19 project. Combined with our registration as a public works contractor with the California Department of Industrial Relations, BurnBot meets all state licensing and labor compliance requirements for government-contracted vegetation management work of this nature.
Key Personnel
Name / Title Experience and Qualifications
Lincoln Peters, Project Manager
(BurnBot)
22-year USFS wildland fire veteran and retired Fire Captain, Mill Creek Hotshots (San Bernardino National Forest). 15 years as Fire Captain across hotshot crews and engines; 5 4 283
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years as Division/Group Supervisor on incident management teams. Extensive experience in fuels management, hazard tree mitigation, hand-line construction, and multi-crew field supervision in steep Southern California terrain.
Qualifications include DIVS, ICT3, CRWB, ENGB, TFLD, and RXB3. Certified Instructor (1A/1B).
Isaias Casimiro Montalvo,
Owner/Crew Supervisor (Fresh
Garland)
Primary point of contact and operational lead for Fresh Garland Reforestation. Extensive experience managing hand crews in steep terrain, ladder fuel reduction, manual thinning, and community interface environments. Oversees a crew of 15–20 members (scalable) holding OSHA PPE training,
NWCG FFT2 Wildland Firefighter Certification, and USFS
B-Level Chainsaw Safety Certification (professional fallers), with First Aid/CPR maintained by all supervisors. Quality assurance maintained through daily safety briefings, annual competency assessments, and continuous performance
monitoring against project specifications.
Daniel Casimiro, Superintendent
(Fresh Garland)
Extensive experience in hazard tree assessment and falling, manual mastication, and hand piling on slopes exceeding 40%. He has led fuel modification crews across steep
Southern California coastal terrain, with strong proficiency in CAL/OSHA chainsaw protocols, biomass reduction, and
maintaining compliance with biological and fire safety
requirements in sensitive environments.
Orlando Martinez-Mendez,
Foreman (Fresh Garland)
Specializes in steep terrain operations, cut-and-pile methods, and manual vegetation treatment. He brings proven
experience coordinating safe crew operations on challenging slopes where equipment access is restricted, with a
disciplined focus on low-impact techniques, erosion
prevention, and maintaining treatment quality standards on slope-restricted sites.
Ford Ainslie, Director of
Partnerships & Growth (BurnBot)
Leads BurnBot's partnership development and sales efforts, bringing extensive experience managing full-lifecycle
contract opportunities from initial outreach through award.
He serves as the primary point of contact for municipal and agency clients, ensuring proposals are responsive,
compliant, and clearly communicate BurnBot's technical
capabilities. Ford has cultivated relationships with fire departments, land management agencies, and local
governments across California, and is committed to
delivering solutions that align contractor expertise with the specific wildfire mitigation needs of each community.
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Subcontractors
BurnBot will utilize Fresh Garland Reforestation as our primary hand crew subcontractor for manual vegetation management operations on FMZ 19. Fresh Garland will be responsible for manual thinning, brush removal, pruning, material movement to designated drop points, treatment boundary compliance, and steep terrain operations in Units 1 and 2.
Fresh Garland brings extensive experience in steep terrain hand treatments, ladder fuel reduction, and work in and around residential structures, with all crew members holding OSHA PPE training, chainsaw safety certifications, and USFS B-Level Faller Certification for professional fallers. Their established partnership with BurnBot spanning thousands of acres of comparable fuels mitigation work ensures seamless integration with BurnBot's operational standards and prescription compliance protocols.
Fresh Garland Reforestation is BurnBot's primary and preferred hand crew partner — not a contingency resource, but an integral part of how BurnBot delivers projects of this nature. Our collaboration spans thousands of acres across multiple projects, and Fresh Garland crews operate as a seamless extension of the BurnBot team. They know our standards, our protocols, and our expectations before they set foot on site. BurnBot maintains direct field supervision over all Fresh Garland operations, with dedicated oversight, daily progress monitoring, and full accountability for treatment compliance, safety adherence, and environmental protocol. The City will not receive two separate teams working in parallel — it will receive one unified, coordinated operation under BurnBot's management from day one.
4. APPROACH / METHODOLOGY
Overview
BurnBot's approach to FMZ 19 is grounded in a thorough understanding of the project site (through multiple site walks), the City's established treatment protocols, and the environmental constraints governing work in this Coastal Act-permitted zone. FMZ 19 presents a combination of steep terrain, densely vegetated coastal slopes, sensitive biological resources, indirect access points, and proximity to residential structures — conditions that require a precise, crew-led approach rather than heavy mechanized equipment. BurnBot's methodology is designed to deliver a 100-foot-wide fuel modification zone across 26.9 acres using a mosaic treatment approach that reduces both horizontal and vertical fuel continuity while preserving ecological integrity and the visual character of the hillside.
Pre-Mobilization
Prior to commencing any field work, BurnBot will complete the following preparatory steps:
→ Coordinate with the City's project manager to confirm scheduling, access arrangements, and any site-specific conditions identified since the RFP → Participate in City-led worker environmental training covering all applicable mitigation measures, special-status species awareness, and permit compliance requirements 6 285
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→ Coordinate with the City-designated qualified biologist to review pre-construction survey findings, confirm flagged exclusion zones and species buffers, and ensure all crew members are briefed on avoidance requirements before breaking ground → Confirm all equipment is in serviceable condition, with all factory-installed safety devices functioning, and all PPE inventoried and distributed to crew members → Establish staging areas in cleared zones and position fire suppression equipment and hand tool caches within 300 feet of all active work areas Treatment Methodology
All fuel modification activities will be conducted in strict accordance with the City of Laguna Beach Fuel Modification Treatment Protocols and the conditions established in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Lower Hobo and Diamond Crestview Fuel Modification Project.
Vegetation Reduction Target and Pattern
Vegetation will be reduced to a target of approximately 50% remaining cover, consistent with City standards. Treatment will be applied in a dispersed mosaic pattern to break up horizontal and vertical fuel continuity while avoiding large continuous clearings that could compromise habitat value, erosion stability, or visual character.
Vegetation Removal Hierarchy
BurnBot will follow the City’s prescribed removal hierarchy in all treatment areas:
1. All non-native and invasive vegetation will be removed first, including unmaintained ornamental vegetation
2. Dead and dying native vegetation will be removed, with careful distinction made between dormant and dead material
3. If additional reduction is required to reach target fuel levels, native vegetation will be selectively thinned per the City's prescribed hierarchy, with the qualified biologist providing guidance to preserve habitat value and biodiversity
4. Southern Maritime Chaparral species — including Bush Rue, Spiny Redberry, and Bigpod Lilac — will be retained unless all other hierarchy opportunities have been exhausted Pruning Standards
→ Ladder fuels will be reduced through selective pruning → Crown base height on tree-form shrubs will be raised to approximately 50% of plant height → Dead and dying branches will be removed from trees and large shrubs → Stumps will be cut low to grade (≤4 inches where feasible) → All pruning cuts will be made within 1 inch or less of the branch coll Lop-and-Scatter and Biomass Management
Primary biomass management will utilize lop-and-scatter techniques, with treated vegetation cut and dispersed to reduce fuel continuity while minimizing soil disturbance. Non-native vegetation will be hauled to an approved green waste recycling facility. Native material will be dispersed 7 286
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on-site to support erosion control and mulch distribution where slope conditions allow, consistent with the City's treatment protocols.
Waterway Buffers
A 25-foot buffer will be maintained on either side of all blue-line drainages crossing the treatment area. Within these buffers, work will be limited to removal of Pampas Grass and other invasive species. No treatment will occur within the 0.5-acre exclusion zones or the 3-acre drainage/stream buffer areas identified in the project maps.
Herbicide
No herbicide will be used on this project, as prohibited by the RFP Scope of Services.
Environmental Compliance
BurnBot recognizes that environmental compliance is not incidental to this project — it is central to it. All work will be conducted in close coordination with the City-designated qualified biologist, who will conduct pre-construction surveys, flag sensitive resources, provide worker environmental training, and monitor operations as needed. BurnBot will:
→ Limit all activities to approved work areas at all times → Strictly observe all flagged exclusion zones, species buffers, and drainage setbacks → Immediately halt work and notify the biologist if any special-status species are encountered during operations
→ Comply with all nesting bird avoidance requirements, including seasonal restrictions if applicable
→ Ensure all pruning tools are cleaned and disinfected prior to use and at least weekly during the project to prevent the spread of pathogens, including shot hole borers on oak and sycamore trees
→ Avoid all work during or within two days following a significant rainfall event (>0.25 inches) to prevent soil compaction and erosion
Erosion Control
Given FMZ 19's steep terrain, BurnBot will implement proactive erosion control measures throughout the project. Haul routes will be minimized and varied where practicable to avoid creating skid trails, with brush carried off the ground rather than dragged wherever feasible. The preponderance of perennial plant root systems will be left in place to maintain slope stability.
Where designated, BurnBot will install weed-free burlap straw wattles, jute netting, or all-natural fiber mats as directed by the City's project manager or biologist. Areas of moderate slope will be mulched from cut native material to minimize weed propagation and reduce ongoing maintenance needs.
Safety
BurnBot will maintain rigorous safety protocols throughout all field operations, including:
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→ Full PPE compliance for all personnel at all times, including leather boots, gloves, long pants, chainsaw chaps, hard hat, eye and ear protection for chainsaw operators, and snake gaiters for all workers
→ No chainsaw or power tool operations during Red Flag Warning conditions or when the Air Quality Index is Orange or higher
→ Fire suppression equipment and hand tool caches staged at all active work areas, with at least one cache within 300 feet of any active power tool use → No smoking permitted within the project area at any time → All vehicles parked only in areas cleared of flammable vegetation → Steep slope protocols enforced, with work limited to conditions deemed safe by the Field Supervisor
All safety incidents, near-misses, and field conditions of concern will be reported immediately to the BurnBot Project Manager and the City's project manager.
Proposed Schedule
Milestone Target Date
Contract Execution Upon Notice of Intent to Award
Pre-Construction Coordination & Biologist
Survey
Within 2 weeks of City notice to proceed
Field Operations Begin No later than October 15, 2026
Estimated Field Duration 10–15 working days
Project Completion Within agreed timeframe; no later than June 30, 2027
5. REFERENCES / PROJECT HISTORY
Reference #1
Agency Name Ventura County Fire Department
Brief
Description of
Services
BurnBot partnered with the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) on multiple fuel reduction projects in Ventura County, including a 21.2-acre shaded fuel break along the Las Virgenes Trail corridor and the targeted removal of approximately 95 palm trees within a riparian creek corridor adjacent to Bell Canyon Park. Work combined remote-controlled mechanical mastication (RCU-55 and RCU-75 systems) with hand crew treatments — including controlled felling, winch-assisted extraction, and mechanical loading — in steep and environmentally sensitive riparian zones. All operations were 9 288
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conducted under strict red-flag protocols, with multi-agency coordination and environmental protections for riparian buffers, demonstrating BurnBot's ability to execute complex WUI fuel reduction in high-risk Southern California environments mirroring the conditions present in FMZ 19.
Contact
Information
Captain Ryan Matheson
(805) 914-7574
[email protected]
Reference #2
Agency Name Bend Fire & Rescue (City of Bend)
Brief Description
of Services
In partnership with Bend Fire & Rescue, BurnBot implemented 156 acres of WUI community protection treatments across varied terrain adjacent to residential developments, including creation of shaded fuel breaks. Work required multi-stakeholder coordination with the High Desert Museum and BNSF Railway, as well as adaptive management protocols to accommodate active recreational uses. This project mirrors the municipal partnership structure and complex stakeholder environment of the FMZ 19 scope.
Contact
Information
Melissa Steele
(541) 385-6679
[email protected]
Reference #3
Agency Name Los Alamos Fire Department
Brief Description
of Services
BurnBot delivered mechanical fuels mitigation treatments across 44.5 acres of County-owned WUI land in Los Alamos, NM in partnership with the Los Alamos Fire Department. Work included remote mastication using FAE RCU75 systems capable of operating on slopes up to 55 degrees, targeting Ponderosa pine thinning and defensible space creation adjacent to private and county lands. Project scope encompassed multi-unit treatment areas — including Canyon Rim Trail, Horse Stables, and Canada Del Buey — with GIS-guided slope and vegetation complexity analysis, daily site documentation, and adaptive management protocols reflective of the complexity expected in FMZ 19.
Contact
Information
Van Leimer
(505) 695-4353
[email protected]
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6. PROPOSED COST FILE
Item Description Est. Period of
Performance
QTY Unit Price
Hand Crew
Fuel
Modification
(See Table 1)
15-person crew performing
FMZ 19 treatment in
accordance with City
protocols
10 - 15 Working
Days (July 1, 2026 -
June 30, 2027)
26.9 acres
$7,763 /acre
Project
Management
(See Table 2)
Our project management fees
are included in our per-acre
pricing.
Included in
/acre price
TOTAL $208,824
Table 1 – Field Personnel
Role QTY Description Hourly Rate
Crew
Supervisor
1 Not subject to Prevailing Wage – Senior field
supervisor managing all on-site crew activities
$120
Superintendent 1 Subject to Prevailing Wage – Operations superintendent overseeing multi-crew coordination
$102.64
Foreman 2 Subject to Prevailing Wage – Directing daily field operations
$102.64
Chainsaw
Operator
5 Subject to Prevailing Wage – Performing
mechanical vegetation removal
$76.64
Ground Crew
Laborer
6 Subject to Prevailing Wage – Performing manual
fuel modification tasks
$76.09
Table 2 – Project Management
Item QTY Description Hourly Rate
Project
Manager
1 Not subject to Prevailing Wage $120
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7. OTHER INFORMATION
Large Hazard Tree Removal Capability
BurnBot confirms that our team possesses the professional ability and specialized equipment necessary to remove large, mature, and complex hazard trees. Our crews hold Registered Professional Forester (RPF) credentials and have successfully completed numerous tree removal projects throughout Southern California and the greater state of California. Should large hazard trees within FMZ 19 require removal beyond standard fuel modification treatment, BurnBot is fully capable of performing this work and is prepared to establish an agreed-upon rate with the City at the time such trees are identified.
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