The GOAT: Hooved friend provides moral support to firefighters in Colorado

The GOAT: Hooved friend provides moral support to firefighters in Colorado 1 of 6 | A goat named Goldie has been accompanying crews fighting a small wildfire in Colorado. Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — followed firefighters over two days this week as they actively engaged the flames and cleared brush. 2 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 3 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 4 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 5 of 6 | Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat who kept firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) 6 of 6 | Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat grazes while keeping firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) 1 of 6 A goat named Goldie has been accompanying crews fighting a small wildfire in Colorado. Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — followed firefighters over two days this week as they actively engaged the flames and cleared brush. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 2 of 6 A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 3 of 6 A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 6 | A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) 4 of 6 A goat named Goldie keeps firefighters company while they battle the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 6 | Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat who kept firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) 5 of 6 Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat who kept firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 6 | Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat grazes while keeping firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) 6 of 6 Goldie, short for Golden-Oreo, a goat grazes while keeping firefighters company in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Lindsey Glader) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Crews were quashing a small wildfire in Colorado this week when a surprise guest decided to keep them company. A goat named Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — followed firefighters for hours as they actively engaged the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs and cleared brush. She even took care of some of it on her own by chomping on leaves.The 4-year-old Nigerian dwarf goat with a brown and white coat led firefighters down a hill and followed them to their trucks. She watched as they packed up for the day, then trailed behind one truck as it drove off, said Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire Department Lt. Trevor Leland. “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,” he said. Earlier Thursday, Goldie spotted a U.S. Forest Service crew member having lunch, and tried to stick her head over his shoulder to get a bite and hang out with him for awhile, Leland said.Goldie’s owner, Lindsey Glader, says she’s quite the social butterfly. Or, buttergoat? Glader said the firefighters did a phenomenal job tackling the fire that was 50% contained late Friday. Crews hope to have it fully contained Friday, said Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs Fire Department.That fire and others across the West have kept crews busy, fueled from a record lack of snow, high temperatures and erratic winds. The crew from Colorado-springs" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="7256" data-entity-type="location">Colorado Springs also was called to the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver that forced the evacuations of thousands of residents this month. 6 MIN READ 2 MIN READ 2 MIN READ Goldie figured they needed an “extra boost of support” and stepped in, Glader said. “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,” she said.