Fire Mitigation
What is Fire Mitigation?
Fire Mitigation is the act of reducing combustible fuel loads around structures to decrease the risk of damage from a wildfire. DuranGoats performs this with GOATS and with CHAINSAWS.
Key Fire Mitigation Strategies
-Overall fuel reduction will reduce the intensity of the fire by giving it less to burn
-Create flame breaks by ensuring open space between combustible plants. In the event of a wildfire, this could prevent one plant from being able to spread the fire to the next one.
-Reduce ladder fuels by removing plant growth between the ground level and the canopy. This can prevent the fire from climbing higher than the ground.
-Ensure defensible structures by clearing all vegetation within 10-50 feet of any man-made structure.
How do goats help?
The natural browsing behavior of goats can help us achieve all four of these goals. Goats’ single favorite activity is overall fuel reduction, and by grazing down the grasses and weeds between shrubs they create flame breaks. By eating all the leaves from the ground to as high as their extendo-necks can reach, they will reduce ladder fuels. We use maximum-security fencing to target the goats’ grazing to the highest priority areas to ensure defensible structures.
The most common fire-threat plants in our area are gambel oak and cheat grass, which combine to create flash fuel loads and ladder fuels. Click the links to learn more about how goats reduce the fire risks of these plants.
After the goats eat away the leafy vegetation, it’s much easier for us humans to come in with chainsaws and remove the bare branches and thin things out even more. This is good to do anywhere within 50-100 feet of a structure. We prioritize keeping as much wildlife habitat intact while still ensuring defensible structures.
Additional Funding Options
Wildfire Adapted Partnership offers funding for fire mitigation in specific areas of Southwest Colorado. In order to qualify, you must schedule a site assessment with one of their assessors. They will write up the scope of the work needed to be performed, which a contractor such as DuranGoats can bid on. For more information, visit the Defensible Space Cost Share page website!
How do I start?
If you would like us to perform fire mitigation on your property, call or email us to schedule a free site visit!
Resources and References
Gambel Oak info video.
Sources on Gambel Oak:
University of Arizona: “Control of Gambel Oak Sprouts by Goats”
Natural Resources Series: “Gambel Oak Management”