By Sonny Saghera
April 23, 2019 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, will once again be taking steps to clear brush from eight and one-half acres of land near Lawton Drive and Camino De Las Palmas in Lemon Grove. Goats are being used as part of the process in clearing heavy brush to minimize fire danger and help create defensible space for homes in this area.
"This type of brush abatement is a real help to firefighters considering the tremendous growth we have seen this spring in the light, flashy fuels this year," says Heartland Fire Chief Steve Swaney.
The company being used for this project in Lemon Grove, Environmental Land Management (ELM), is the same company that has been used for the past few years at this site. ELM began delivering 150 adult and 50 juvenile goats (kids) during the second week of April and they have been progressing steadily across the hillside. The goats may be visible to those traveling along the 125 freeway in the area of Lemon Grove during this weed abatement process. Combined with a small amount of labor from ELM employees usingmechanical assistance, the goats will leave the hillside clean and free from fire danger.
Residents in the neighborhood have been supportive of the abatement measures and enjoy seeing the goats return to Lawton Drive much like the swallows to Capistrano.
For more information on this weed abatement project, please contact Heartland Fire & Rescue Division Chief Brian Manns at 619-441-1600.