LAGUNA BEACH : 400 Goats to Chew Firebreak for City

A herd of about 400 goats that chewed back brush to create a firebreak two years ago soon will begin a repeat performance in Laguna Beach.

Having won unanimous City Council approval for the $125,000 project last week, Deputy Fire Chief Rich Dewberry said the goats will probably begin appearing on city hillsides next month and will continue munching until June.

“We will be sending letters out to all the folks (living in the area) to tell them to expect to see them,” Dewberry said.

The city is using the goats to aid firefighters by creating a fuel break that would slow and reduce the heat of a brush fire.

Considering the recent rainfall, Dewberry said the animals will have plenty of growth over the 152 acres of hillside to keep them busy.

When the city first used the goats in 1991, Dewberry said, some residents brought their children to watch the performance, finding it educational and entertaining.

The goats will chew a path 150 to 400 feet wide from Laguna Canyon Road, past homes in the Top of the World neighborhood and on to Hobo Canyon, at the edge of South Laguna.

Before the city began using goats, Dewberry said, some people voiced concerns about whether the grazing would be harmful to the environment.

“Those concerns have been alleviated because it didn’t kill the vegetation, it just reduced the fuel loading,” he said.

Dewberry said using goats is economical for the city, which previously hired hand crews to clear the hillside. The work crews would likely cost between $875,000 and $1.25 million, depending upon the vegetation and slope, he said.

The city maintains the fuel break every two years.