GETTING THEIR GOATS: HOMEOWNERS HIRE FOUR-FOOTED BRUSH CLEARING CREW

April 7, 2011 (El Cajon) – Heavy rains this winter have led to rapid growth of brush—posing high fire danger as the weather warms up. Fire officials caution that now is the time to clear brush around your home and structures. Defensible space slows wildfires and gives firefighters room to protect your property. Clearance to 100 feet around your home, as state law requires, dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire.

Clearing brush can be time-consuming and costly.  But this week, several homeowners’ associations and individual landowners in El Cajon have opted to take a proactive approach by utilizing a low-tech but "cutting edge" approach. 

The process includes hand tools--followed by a herd of hungry goats. Where needed, machinery completes the process. You can view the voracious goats munching away those weeds north of I-8 between Main Street and the 125 freeway now through Sunday.

The herd belongs to ELM Goats, owned by Johnny Gonzalez http://www.elmgoats.com/.

Goats are used to eat away the large sections of dry grass, weeds, thistles and anything that is flammable. The method is clean, quiet and ecologically better than any other land clearing efforts--plus goats will naturally fertilize the ground and keep it well packed. Goats can be used effectively in almost any terrain, especially slopes to rocky or steep for human or machine clearing. Because these goats are tightly managed by highly trained handlers, they are kept from overgrazing and provide an effective option for brush abatement and weed control.

For more information on defensible space and how to protect your home from wildfire, visit:

Why 100 Feet: CalFire Guidelines: http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/DefensibleSp...

Also from CalFire: http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/communications_firesafety_100feet.php