A four-year-old Nigerian dwarf goat named Goldie recently decided to join the front lines of the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado Springs. In the process, she provided an unexpected morale boost to the crews working in the area. The fire itself has been a serious situation for the community. So, Goldie made sure the firefighters had some company during their long hours of labor.
According to the Associated Press, crews were busy quashing a small wildfire this week when the brown and white goat appeared. PEOPLE highlighted that the determined animal spent hours trailing the team as they engaged the fire and cleared brush. The Colorado Springs Fire Department seemed to enjoy the company. They even shared a video on Facebook that has gained over 2.5 million views since it was posted on July 9.
The department captioned the video with, “Every crew needs a good leader … apparently ours has four legs.” They added, “Our firefighters got an unexpected escort from a very determined goat who led them toward the fire area and even helped with some fuel mitigation along the way.” The department even joked about her potential career path, noting, “We’re not saying she’s ready for a badge… but we’re also not saying she isn’t.”
Morale booster is just one step away from mascot
Goldie, whose full name is Golden Oreo, proved to be quite the dedicated companion. Per AP News, Colorado Springs Fire Department Lt. Trevor Leland noted that the goat followed the team down a hill and even tracked them all the way to their trucks. With that level of cuteness, it is no wonder that a British Columbia woman recently threw down with a cougar to save her Nigerian dwarf goat.
The outlet noted that she watched the crew pack up their gear for the day and even trailed behind one of the vehicles as it drove off. Lt. Leland mentioned, “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.”
Before the crew left, AP noted that Goldie had already made herself at home with the team. Earlier on July 9, she managed to spot a U.S. Forest Service crew member who was taking a lunch break. She reportedly tried to stick her head over his shoulder to snag a bite of his food. Then she hung out for a while.
Her owner, Lindsey Glader, describes her as a social butterfly. Glader told AP News that Goldie likely felt the crews needed an “extra boost of support” and decided to step in to help. She added, “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.”
The reality of the current wildfire season is that it is incredibly demanding for everyone involved. According to the Associated Press, Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Fire Department, confirmed that the Rock Creek Fire was 50% contained late Friday. Despite it being really bad, in Oregon, a woman demanded patio seating during a wildfire when the AQI was 500.
Crews have been working tirelessly to get full containment. However, they have been dealing with a record lack of snow, high temperatures, and erratic winds across the West. AP reported that the same Colorado Springs crew was also recently deployed to the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver. That fire required the evacuation of thousands of residents earlier this month.
According to PEOPLE, the department eventually discovered that Goldie was actually a local pet. They shared the update on their social media channels, stating, “GREAT NEWS!! This sweet little friend’s owners reached out to us.”
They explained that Goldie is a family goat. They also noted that she managed to make it back home safely when the firefighters returned from the scene. The department teased that this might not be the last time the public sees her on their pages, especially after one commenter suggested, “If you don’t give her a little fireman’s hat right now…”
Published: Jul 20, 2026 10:12 am