Goats and sheep have finished clearing more than 21 acres of dense vegetation as part of a brush clearing and fire prevention effort in the foothills above Arcadia.
Four hundred grazing goats and sheep worked together for 20 days to navigate the steep, hard-to-reach Wilderness Park terrain beginning on July 15, the California Fire Foundation announced in an email on Wednesday.
“As they grazed, their hooves broke through crystallized soil caused by the Eaton Fire, helping reduce runoff and flooding risks in nearby neighborhoods,” the email read.
While goats and sheep have been used in clearing efforts in other areas, the project marked the first time the city of Arcadia has used the animals for fuel reduction.
Crews will now have access to the hillsides, which have been impacted by two major wildfires over the past five years, the email stated.
January’s deadly and devastating Eaton Fire scorched more than 14,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in nearby Altadena after erupting in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills.
The Bobcat Fire in 2020 threatened the foothill communities, leading to evacuation orders for residents in Arcadia.
“This project is an innovative and community-friendly way to improve wildfire safety,” said Arcadia Fire Department Chief Chen Suen. “By partnering with the California Fire Foundation, we can better protect life and property in Arcadia, all while educating the community on the importance of wildfire prevention.”
The project, in collaboration with the California Conservation Corps, is part of a multi-year vegetation management effort.
Donations to the California Fire Foundation’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk in communities across California can be made on its website.
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