Mercury Insurance, a California-based auto and home insurance provider, has made a strategic investment in BurnBot to advance wildfire mitigation efforts and support more affordable and accessible insurance coverage.
BurnBot is a wildfire mitigation technology company that develops and operates data-driven robotic systems for hazardous fuel reduction and vegetation management. The company works with agencies, utilities and communities to reduce wildfire risk and increase resilience.
Mercury’s investment reflects its aggressive approach to reducing wildfire risks before they cause damage and is part of its broader efforts to strengthen community resilience and support long-term insurance availability and affordability in wildfire-prone regions, particularly California.
Through investment and collaboration, Mercury and BurnBot will explore risk reduction strategies for communities at risk from wildfires, designed to help them become safer and more secure over time.
“Wildfire risk is a major concern for many communities, and addressing the issue will require more than traditional approaches,” said Victor Joseph, president and chief operating officer of Mercury Insurance.
“Insurers have a responsibility to support mitigation and recovery initiatives. Working with BurnBot, we are deepening our understanding of how on-the-ground risk reduction translates into expanded coverage availability and improved affordability for homeowners and communities.”
Anukool Lakhina, CEO of BurnBot, added: “Mercury’s leadership in hazard mitigation is important to the future of wildfire insurance in California and beyond.
“We are pleased to support Mercury in building practical pathways to connect real-world risk reduction with insurance outcomes.”
The partnership will initially focus on California, where BurnBot’s mitigation efforts are already underway, and may expand over time based on results and experience.