A major grazing effort is underway to protect Santa Barbara County residents in the event of a brush fire.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council is using goats and lambs from Cuyama Lamb and Golden State Goats to graze areas that have been identified as high or very high fire severity zones.

The grazing is happening in the area around Santa Barbara County Fire Headquarters, 4110 Cathedral Oaks, Santa Barbara.

Treatment in that area faces the city and is considered to be particularly beneficial as it helps tie into the fuel breaks that dot the city.

Prescribed grazing is a versatile and ecologically-based wildfire mitigation strategy.

“Herbivory is a great tool to use when it comes to fuel mitigation to assist in reducing fuel loads in high fire severity areas,” said Jessie Tobin, Chipping and Grazing Program project manager.

“The sheep and goats have the ability to access areas that are often difficult to treat mechanically and provide an ecological alternative to mechanical applications,” Tobin said. “Plus it’s a great way to bring awareness to the public about wildfire risk and education, everyone loves to see the herds munching away.”

So far this year 171 acres have been grazed in the San Marcos Foothills, Montecito Water District and Tea Gardens, Montecito-Ennisbrook Preserve, San Marcos Trout Club, Baron Ranch, and San Roque.

In all, the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council plans to use the goats and lambs to graze 855 acres in 2024.