We’re still fighting fires in Colorado. The major one that I wrote about on July 2 grew to be the 7th largest in Colorado history, and it’s not nearly out yet. But in the middle of all that, there’s a feel good story on a minor fire on Cheyenne Mountain on July 8.

Turns out the crews were led to and from the fire by Goldie, the Goat. Here’s the short version:

Fire crews working to contain the Rock Creek Canyon fire west of Cheyenne Mountain State Park on Wednesday encountered a goat who led them up and down the mountain, often stopping to bleat to make sure they were following. The Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team wrote on Facebook that fire crews wanted to “give a huge shout out to this cute little path finder who indeed was the GOAT of the Rock Creek Canyon Fire today ensuring all Crews got off the mountain safely.” (Photo courtesy of Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team)

The story opens:

Give Goldie the goat a gold badge.

She deserves it after escorting firefighters up and down a mountain on Wednesday as they worked to contain a wildfire sparked by a lightning strike near Cheyenne Mountain State Park just south of Colorado Springs.

The goat showed firefighters the best path, often stopping to bleat and encourage them to follow her route, said Shayne Coyne, superintendent of the Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team.

“She understood what was going on and what was happening,” Coyne said. “She wanted to make sure she knew all the humans got to the fire. This goat got to be a legend up there.” – Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, July 9, 2026

Shayne summarized the story:

Animals are amazing and they do such special things. It’s been a pretty tough time in Colorado with the fires and this was a good story.

I nearly always finish an animal story with:

But ask the animals, and they will teach you… (Job 12.7, NIV)