Firefighters working to contain a small wildfire in Colorado this week found themselves with an unlikely companion — a goat who decided to join the effort and stick around for hours.
The four-legged visitor, a 4-year-old Nigerian dwarf goat named Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — shadowed crews as they battled the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado Springs and cleared away brush. She even pitched in a little herself, munching on leaves along the way.
According to Colorado Springs Fire Department Lt. Trevor Leland, the brown and white goat led firefighters down a hillside, followed them back to their trucks, watched as they wrapped up for the day, and even trotted behind one of the trucks as it pulled away.
“I don’t know that she necessarily helped with the firefighting effort, but it’s always cool to see an animal like that who doesn’t mind us being there,” Leland said.
Earlier that Thursday, Goldie spotted a U.S. Forest Service crew member eating lunch and tried to poke her head over his shoulder to snag a bite and spend some time with him, Leland added.
Goldie’s owner, Lindsey Glader, described her goat as quite the social butterfly — or, as Glader jokingly put it, a “buttergoat.”
Glader praised the firefighters, saying they did a phenomenal job on the blaze, which was 50% contained by late Friday. Crews were hoping to achieve full containment by the end of Friday, according to Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
That fire is one of several burning across the western United States, with conditions worsened by a record lack of snowfall, elevated temperatures, and unpredictable winds. The Colorado Springs crew was also called to assist with the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver, which forced thousands of residents to evacuate earlier this month.
Glader said Goldie seemed to sense that the crews could use an “extra boost of support” and showed up to deliver it.
“She was able to give some comedic relief and offer some necessary levity for these guys and gals who have worked really, really hard and creating a break for this fire, and keeping a lot of people and a lot of things safe,” Glader said.
