Have you herd the good news? Our four-legged firefighters have arrived, and they’re ready to bleat back wildfire risks! The Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks is ramping up its multi-faceted strategy to reduce wildfire risk, protect wildlife habitats, and safeguard both our natural resources and the neighborhoods that border our parks.
For its 2025 Fire Fuel Reduction Action Plan, the Department of Regional Parks has lined up sheep and goat grazing contracts, is utilizing park maintenance crews (and other manned crews through contracts with the California Conservation Corps and Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps) to maintain firebreaks and is issuing fuel reduction permits by request to property owners bordering Regional Park properties.
“Fire is an ever-present danger in our Regional Parks, and with another moderately wet winter and spring behind us, the risk will only grow as vegetation dries out,” said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. “I’m incredibly proud of the proactive work our staff and partners are doing to stay ahead of these risks. From hand crews and firebreaks to grazing programs and community partnerships, we’re doing everything we can to protect our parks and the people who live near them.”
To decrease the number and size potential of wildfires in our parks system, the techniques used include:
- Firebreaks – A combination of mowing, soil discing and herbicides will be used where appropriate to create perimeters around open fields, along fence lines and behind neighborhoods. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.
- Ladder Fuel Hand-Crews – In limited, hard-to-reach areas, hand-crews will remove vegetation that could provide a path for a fire to spread upward into tree canopies, where it is much harder to control.
- Grazing – There are thousands of acres of natural landscapes in the Sacramento County Regional Parks system. Goats and sheep are ideal for vegetation management to help reduce herbaceous fuels over larger areas and in areas with difficult terrain that are difficult to maintain with manned crews. Grazing is expected to occur through the end of June and some areas may be grazed later in the summer to manage late emerging yellow star-thistle.
- Annual Encroachment Permits – Residents who live adjacent to Regional Parks’ properties are able to apply for free annual encroachment permits to maintain a firebreak behind their property line. These permits allow residents to string-trim herbaceous vegetation up to 50 feet beyond their private property line. To request a permit, provide your name, address and contact information to Regional Parks at parksinfo@SacCounty.gov.
In addition to these proven fire fuel reduction measures, our Ranger Division is continuing its education and enforcement campaign related to illegal fires and cooking along the parkway in an effort to reduce the number of new fire outbreaks.
Visitors to Sacramento County Regional Parks should be aware of the following regulations:
- Open flame fires are NOT allowed, and barbequing is only permitted in designated picnic areas.
- Smoking is only allowed in developed picnic areas, on asphalt surfaces, within golf courses and on levee tops along the American River Parkway.
Visit the Regional Parks website to learn more about the 2025 Fire Fuel Reduction Action Plan for Sacramento County Parks. If you see a fire burning in our Regional Parks, please call 9-1-1.
(From Sacramento County)
