As crews in Colorado worked to extinguish a small wildfire this week, an unexpected visitor joined them during their efforts.
Goldie, a goat whose full name is Golden Oreo, accompanied firefighters for several hours as they tackled the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado Springs, lending a “helping hoof” by munching on the brush.
This 4-year-old Nigerian dwarf goat, sporting a distinctive brown and white coat, guided the firefighters downhill to their trucks. As they wrapped up their day, Goldie watched them and even followed one of the trucks as it left, according to Lt. Trevor Leland of the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
“I’m not sure if she actually assisted in our firefighting tasks, but it’s always nice to see an animal that’s comfortable with our presence,” he remarked.
Earlier that Thursday, Goldie showed her sociable side by trying to get a taste of a U.S. Forest Service crew member’s lunch and spent some time with him, Leland added.
Goldie’s owner, Lindsey Glader, describes her as a social butterfly—perhaps a “buttergoat”?
Glader commended the firefighters’ exceptional job in battling the fire, which was 50% contained by late Friday. Fire crews aimed to have it fully contained by Friday, according to Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
The Rock Creek Fire, along with other fires across the West, kept crews occupied, fueled by unusually low snowfall, high temperatures, and unpredictable winds. The Colorado Springs team was also summoned to the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of residents this month.
Glader believes Goldie sensed that the firefighters needed an “extra boost of support” and stepped in to provide it.
“She brought some lighthearted humor and much-needed relief to the team, who have worked tirelessly to contain the fire, ensuring the safety of many people and properties,” Glader stated.
