In 2024, the United States experienced 64,897 wildfires, scorching approximately 8.9 million acres. These fires resulted in $275 billion in economic losses nationwide and, in California alone, more than 16,200 structures were destroyed. Most importantly, countless lives were lost or disrupted. Controlled burns can effectively reduce wildfire risks and maintain healthy ecosystems, but less than 4% of U.S. Forest Service land in the West has been treated with such preventative measures over the past decade, indicating a significant underutilization of this beneficial practice due to concerns about smoke residue affecting neighboring cities, risks of the fire escaping from forestry officials and firefighters' control as well as uncertainty regarding where to start the fire. Additionally, areas utilizing controlled fires experience 68% fewer catastrophic wildfires than areas relying solely on mechanical thinning or fire suppression.​