FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
March 20, 2026
**PRESSRELEASE**
COUNCILMEMBER BOB BLUMENFIELD LAUNCHES VERY HIGH FIRE SEVERITY ZONE GOAT GRAZING PILOT PROGRAM IN THE WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
Reducing fire risk and restoring habitat with hundreds of goats
WOODLAND HILLS, CA – Today, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was joined by members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society to kick off a city-funded pilot program bringing 500 goats to Corbin Canyon Park for weed abatement and fire mitigation. The effort brought the goats directly from the Sepulveda Basin, where they recently completed a similar project led by Mayor Bass, Councilmember Imelda Padilla, and the Audubon Society.
“Goat grazing reduces dry brush and invasive plants without the need for heavy machinery, lowers carbon emissions, minimizes fire risk, and supports long-term ecosystem health,” said Councilmember Blumenfield. “It is a practical solution that prioritizes both public safety and sustainability.”
The goats are from Fire Grazers Inc, a local business that has a long track record of helping local municipalities and property owners with goat weed abatement throughout Southern California.
"We are not strangers to brush fires in Los Angeles, and the best time to act is before they start. The goat program here in Corbin Canyon is exactly the kind of proactive, community-based approach that makes our firefighting more effective,” said LAFD Operation Valley Bureau Deputy Chief Luis Aldana. “I want to thank the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, Councilmember Blumenfield, Mayor Bass, and Councilmember Padilla for making this possible. This demonstrates what building a safer Los Angeles looks like."
For numerous reasons Corbin Canyon Park was a great area to launch this first city-funded pilot. This is a high fire risk, hillside area, with often overgrown vegetation that abuts homes and serves as a gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. Building on the success of the Sepulveda Basin effort, Councilmember Blumenfield created a blueprint to expand goat grazing at city sites, with the goal of reducing fire risk while supporting native habitat restoration.
"After the January 2025 Wildfires, the LA Conservation Corps made a commitment to stand with Los Angeles and do our part to protect residents and the environment,” said LA Conservation Corps CEO, Tamara Muzac-Bravo, Ph.D. “Supporting these goats is part of that mission, because they’re helping reduce fire fuel and manage invasive species.Corbin Canyon Park is an ideal location for this city-funded pilot. It’s a high fire-risk area near homes, and we want to do everything we can to keep the community safe while protecting the native habitat and wildlife. The Corps will make sure these goats stay well hydrated so they can continue their important work.”
In hard to mitigate areas like rugged hills, it can cost up around $4,000 an acre to trim brush, while goats currently cost the tax payers half of that.
At the welcoming event, Blumenfield was joined by LAFD Deputy Chief Luis Aldana, Pat Bates with the SFV Audubon Society and Dr. Tamara Muzac-Bravo, CEO of the LA Conservation Corps.
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