Fire Department receives $15K grant for vegetation management

See you soon! The California Fire Foundation and Pacific Gas & Electric recently awarded a grant to the Benicia Fire Department to continue to fund the vegetation management program, which includes goat grazing. (File photo/Pam Donohue)

Staff Report

The Benicia Fire Department was recently awarded a $15,000 grant to expand the use of goats grazing in high risk, overgrown vegetation areas, according to a news release by the city.

The grant was the result of a partnership between the California Fire Foundation and Pacific Gas & Electric, which have joined forces to address the effects of the climate disasters that have threatened millions of Californians. The agencies have provided $1 million in grant funds to fire departments throughout the state to address such concerns as wildfires, floods and climate-caused disasters. All fire departments in California were invited to apply for funding related to fire prevention and education in their communities.

For the Benicia Fire Department, the grant will continue to fund Benicia’s vegetation management program. Because the city has 2,000 acres of open space near residential areas which often become overgrown with vegetation, firefighters have used discing, spraying and goat grazing to reduce the risk of wildfires in these areas.

According to the news release, the goats are popular with residents as they are considered quieter than discing equipment, do not produce air pollution, are able to navigate steep terrains and can be moved to prevent unnecessary erosion.

“With recent wildfires throughout California, residents are concerned with fire danger and are looking for increased risk reduction,” Fire Chief Josh Chadwick said in a statement. “This grant will help reduce the risk of fire danger in Benicia. We are thankful for the partnership between PG&E and the CA Fire Foundation.”

The goats would be used from September to April before discing work begins in the spring.

Those with more information are asked to contact the Fire Department at firedept@ci.benicia.ca.us or 746-4275.