Goats, sheep, weed wackers are all in part of rapid fire prevention plan

SUMMERLAND, Calif. - For those living in high fire area, this is an urgent time to get a rapid weed abatement plan in motion.

Grasses are drying out. Small fires have already been taking place on the Central Coast.

Some of the worst fires in history have taken place at the end of spring and beginning of summer.

The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection district is asking property owners to have a solid fire prevention plan that includes weed clearing, and a "ready, set, go" evacuation plan. This advice is for home and work.

In the last few weeks, QAD on Ortega Hill Road has brought in goats to clear very steep areas on the property.

Companies using sheep and goats report effective grass clearing and, compared to humans, no issues with injuries. It's their kind of turf and food source.

QAD Chief Financial Officer, Daniel Lender says the goats work fast and they move on to another fenced in location.

"They are in one area for a short period of time and they eat everything, so it's fantastic," said Lender.

The hill top site has 27 acres. "We have quite a bit of land here so it is really important to keep the growth down so we don't start any fires here," said Lender.

From the grass to low level branches the fire prevention is viewed as very impressive.

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Fire Marshall, Robert Rappaport says, "They get not only the ground but they also get what we call ladder fuels that can reach from the ground up into the trees."  

Lender says compared to having a full work crew and equipment around the property, "It's very safe, it is a steep hill and when you have human beings on a steep hill they can get hurt."

Once they are done at QAD, the goats will be moving over to another parcel. Their next assignment will be at Reagan Library in Ventura County.

The Carpinteria-Summerland area is a high risk fire zone even though the nearby hills were burned badly  in the destructive December 2017 Thomas Fire.

Enough was unburned to keep the community here and nearby in Montecito, Santa Barbara and Ventura County, on edge especially on hot days with high winds.

"There's a lot of unburned fuels that hasn't burned in years, in addition, some of the areas that did burn [in the 2017 Thomas fire] it's amazing to see the growth that's occurred in just two years," said  Rappaport.

There's also a neighborhood brush chipping program underway through the fire district to help property owners get rid of what's cut down around their homes. It reduces the cost of the work substantially.

"When you reduce the dry vegetation you are basically taking the punch out of the fire as it moves forward," said Rappaport. "If you remove the dry things especially towards your house within a few feet,  we want you to remove that vegetation so it doesn't get and get into the structure."

Having the goats here has also been a hit with residents especially the kids who come by for a close up look.

Lender says, "they are super cute so everybody likes to see them our neighbors have come over and seen them as well."

For more information on the goats used on this project go to : Brushgoats4Hire