Wildfire Prevention: Goats and Guides

With the recent fires close by in Auburn California that destroyed 63 homes a thought a word about wildfire would be in order. What is eye-opening is that this is not a real rural area, but made up of suburban homes and businesses. Many of the homes did back up to a preserve or natural area.

Here in Lincoln, a friendly shepherd has had his goats and sheep graze off a lot of public and private land. One herd of over 800 goats and sheep are currently grazing and eating 1.5 tons of grass and brush a day. That's a LOT of potential fuel for fires removed. His herds graze each area for a few days, and actually give us the opportunity to get native plants a chance to grow.

Plus we are getting our open spaces fertilized so next spring should be great for wild flowers, bushes and grasses. Already many of the bushes that have been trimmed a couple of weeks ago have sprouted lots of new growth.

In a related article, the National Association of Realtors provides this information about wildfires:

As hot, dry weather heats up the wildfire season, the non-profit Institute for Business & Home Safety is making available a nine-region-specific wildfire property protection guide.

The free guide is downloadable in PDF format, includes advice for retrofitting a home to make to make it more fire resistant.

"We have seen the benefits of effective preparation time and again. On the news, you'll see homes left standing, when others right near them burned. This isn't luck; this is because the surviving home's owner did the right things to make their home more fire resistant," says IBHS CEO Julie Rochman.

Source: Institute for Business & Home Safety (09/02/2009)

Also see this article in the Lincoln News Messenger about the goats and sheep. and this article in the Auburn Journal about the fire.

Remember, the fire season is just starting! Be careful and keep an eye out.

Jeff
Neighborly Realty