Israel deploys sheep to fight fires

In Israel, the Jerusalem Municipality has decided to adopt a novel approach to fighting fires and has deployed herds of livestock to prevent fires in the forests and open areas throughout the city.

Officials have stated that forest fires usually start from low vegetation that spreads rapidly to shrubs, and because of this the Jerusalem Municipality has decided to take creative steps to prevent the blazes, especially in wooded areas which are not accessible by vehicles.

The municipality has recruited 150 sheep and goats and 11 camels to graze in these areas to thin the growth.

The herds are creating bald spots in the fields near the forests that greatly reduce the possibility of the fire spreading.

The pilot is being conducted by the municipality in cooperation with a herd owner from the Umm Lisson neighborhood and in coordination with the veterinary service and the Israeli police.

The pilot is taking place in selected areas to examine the effectiveness of this green fire prevention method.