According to Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund (UC ANR, 2021), fire behavior is influenced by three factors: topography, weather, and fuel (vegetation). We can’t change topography or weather, but we can reduce the threat of small or catastrophic fires by managing fire fuel. To reduce fire intensity and spread, it is possible to alter the continuity of fuels in a landscape (horizontally) and ladder fuels that connect understory vegetation to trees (vertically) through targeted livestock grazing.
Grazing goats, sheep, and cattle in a managed way can help homeowners, land managers, and communities reduce fire fuel loads that can cause catastrophic fires. The amount of fuel that can ignite a spot fire and the threat of it spreading is significantly reduced when a landscape has been grazed. Grazing doesn’t prevent fires; it changes fire behavior, allowing firefighters to attack the blaze before it gets bigger, hotter, and faster. In areas where there’s been no land management or livestock grazing, fuels can accumulate over the years, creating a hazardous fire situation.
Also, expectations matter. If you’re expecting a uniform appearance after grazing (like a mowed field) you’re likely to be disappointed: grazing may leave a patchy look. Furthermore, grazing doesn’t always show immediate results like chemical treatments, weed-whacking, or mowing. Herbicide, for instance, often shows immediate results; grazing takes time. Even though some vegetation may still be left after the targeted grazing period, the fuels removed can change fire behavior, reducing flame length, minimizing embers, and preventing spot fires from starting. A good way to manage fire fuel loads is to graze every year to reduce long-term vegetative growth. All in all, grazing is an effective form of fire fuel management that can reduce overall risk.
Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). (2021). Grazing for Change. Davis, CA; UC ANR.