When it comes to the greatest firefighter of all time, the arguments could go on for hours. But there is no arguing the effectiveness of these “GOATS.”
KTVU 2 reports that in the water-parched East Bay hills, herds of goats are helping to prevent fires — one bite at a time.
“We’ve been chronically busy,” Goats R Us owner, Terri Oyarzun told KTVU. “350 goats can take down about an acre a day of average growth.”
While using goats is not new, the East Bay Regional Parks District said 65 percent of the land is grazed, targeting some 832 acres in areas within 200 feet of homes at 13 different parks.
Assistant Fire Chief at East Bay Regional Park District Khari Helae said the herds cost the district $500,000 a year for their services.
“It’s an investment in making sure we’re doing our part,” Helae told KTVU. “With climate change and the fact that our vegetation is being affected from climate change, it’s necessary to ramp up our fuel reduction program.”
At Lake Chabot Regional Park and along nearby trails, a 15-person hand crew is tasked with taking down trees, many of which firefighters said have been dying due to drought.
Other limbs and brush are being cut back or cleared to make sure they’re addressing areas where the goats cannot.
“We’re going in to reduce those trees, thin them out and that will make it, so it’s not such a fire hazard,” Helae said. “If we have areas that are uncontained…it has the potential to produce large wildfires and flame lengths that are larger than we can control.”
Firefighters say the hard work and money has already paid off.
A vegetation fire a few weeks ago near the Oakland Zoo quickly spread to park property, however, they say newly created fire breaks helped stop it from growing and threatening homes.
“For us, it was a proven example that the combination of fuels management along with the quick fire response, is an effective method of keeping our neighbors safe from catastrophic wildfire,” Helae said.
