SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — You may have noticed them on your daily commute through the county hills. Several goats along the hills, munching on plants, work hard.

“We have a lot of native plants that can be a problem if they get overgrown,” says Johnny Gonzalez, operational director of environmental land management.

These grazing goats come from Environmental Land Management Goats or Lake Miramar ELM Goats.

Since 1998, hundreds of goats have been used to graze on dry brush.

“That’s basically what goats eat. It’s one of the invasive plants that they munch on, but it’s native to goats,” says Gonzalez.

They play a critical role in limiting fire risks in these open areas of dry brush, which Gonzalez said can quickly start and spread fires.

“These plants are very flammable; they are part of the combustible load,” he says. “A lot of them are non-native, and they’re at least 75% of our problem. But invasive weeds take up a lot, these nutrients, these minerals become scourges; they’re the problem with fires. “

In the past 24 hours, two local bush fires have forced San Diegans from their homes. Neighbors in these dry canyon areas say things can instantly get out of control, like Jaime Mercado. He lives near the brush fire that broke out in Bonita, just under SR-125. It was a short walk from his house.

“These things don’t just spontaneously combust: There’s someone around, they’re careless. They throw away a cigarette, or they start cooking something, and then it’s gone.”

This is why the abilities of these goats are highlighted.

“Hard-to-reach areas are where most people see goats, and they are very, very helpful,” says Gonzalez.

SDGE has also recently turned to goats to create firebreaks around electrical infrastructure, and it’s all about staying ahead of the curve.

“If we employ more goats and do it before the fire, we can keep a lot of our native lands, as they say, restored, but they are actually fireproof and sustainable.”