Goat-Grazing Helps SoCalGas Reduce Fire Risk
Sept 18, 2025
LOS ANGELES – In Southern California, wildfire season is a recurring challenge. To help mitigate risks during fire season at SoCalGas’ facilities and the surrounding neighborhoods, the utility collaborated with Sage Environmental Group to deploy an innovative, effective vegetation management solution to its fire mitigation efforts: Goats.
“If you can just imagine a football field that is six inches high, one hundred goats will eat that down to within an inch in just one day,” said Carson Helton of Sage Environmental Group, a vegetation management and restoration ecology contractor. “It’s a lot more effective to use a goat than it is to deploy a mechanical solution. Residents don’t have weed whackers running behind their homes, and to the best of my knowledge, I’ve never heard of a goat starting a fire.”
In 2024, SoCalGas tapped Sage Environmental Group and its method of prescribed goat grazing to help manage vegetation growth outside of two of SoCalGas’ decommissioned facilities in Los Angeles County: Montebello and La Habra Heights. These areas, totaling roughly 12 acres, present steep terrain and dense brush.
“These conditions make traditional mechanical clearing with mowers and machinery difficult and potentially hazardous as the brush dries out,” said Neil Navin, senior vice president and chief infrastructure officer at SoCalGas. “This is where goats are uniquely suited for the job. They can safely navigate slopes and consume invasive and fire-prone vegetation, helping to reduce dry brushes, grasses, and low-hanging tree limbs which can help reduce the spread of wildfires. And the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. People love seeing the goats.”
By targeting nonnative species like brome grasses, mustard, and tobacco trees, goat grazing also contributes to long-term habitat restoration efforts. Native plants are preserved outside fire clearance zones, promoting biodiversity and ecological resilience. This approach both aligns with fire authority requirements and supports the state of California’s broader environmental efforts.
For SoCalGas customers, this work offers several potential benefits. It enhances safety by reducing fire hazards near residential areas, supports sustainability by minimizing landfill trips and emissions from transportation and mowing, and reflects a thoughtful approach to land stewardship.
In a climate with year-round fire dangers, SoCalGas continues to explore adaptive strategies that balance safety, environmental responsibility, and operational efficiency. While not a one-size-fits-all solution, prescribed grazing can be a valuable tool in areas where conventional methods fall short.
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About SoCalGas
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, serving more than 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Our mission is: Safe, Reliable, and Affordable energy delivery today. Ready for tomorrow. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in the energy industry and has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for its volunteer leadership in the communities it serves. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit SoCalGas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas.
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Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, nor are they regulated by the CPUC.