Washington city to use goats to help prevent wildfires

Goats at Gallup

Goats roam the grounds and eat the brush at Gallup Park (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com

WENATCHEE, Wash. — A community in Washington state plans to use goats to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday that a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will fund the rental of goats to clear flammable brush around Wenatchee.

A wildfire near the city 148 miles (238 kilometers) east of Seattle four years ago destroyed 28 homes and three businesses.

Chelan County Fire District 1 Chief Brian Brett says 300 goats will be used for up to 10 days in July to eat fast-burning grass from areas that are hard for people and machines to reach.

This is the first time the district has rented the animals from a goat herder in Ephrata, Washington.

Brett says if the experiment goes well, the goats will return next spring.

-- The Associated Press

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.