‘Goat patrol’ gets to work in Santa Clarita Valley

The work is easy, the compensation is good, and you get to sleep on the job. 

Such is life for around 400 goats who play an important role in Southern California’s wildfire mitigation strategy.

The Goat Patrol, as its own, was deployed to the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday as part of a demonstration of the county’s readiness for the height of wildfire season. 

“We basically bring them in, they do the work, and we head on out,” Cole Bush of Shepherdess Land & Livestock told KTLA’s Sara Welch. “[The goats] can graze about one acre to two acres a day in places that are inaccessible or unsafe for folks with weed whippers or mowers.”

Friday was the first full day of summer. With temperatures climbing and the July 4th holiday near, officials are concerned about the potential for large, destructive blazes caused by illegal fireworks and other human causes.

“Santa Clarita’s whole area is a high fire zone, which means the chance of a fire happening … is great,” warned Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “The city of Santa Clarita puts on an incredible fireworks show. Please take advantage of it. It’s about recognizing that we have to protect our community, but we also have to protect our loved ones.”

A short distance from the site of Friday’s event, fire crews were still working to gain full containment on the 15,000-acre Post Fire outside of Gorman. Two structures were destroyed in the blaze, which broke out Saturday.