From our good friends at the Elk Creek Fire Department (thanks for sending this gentlemen!):
Photo by Mrs. Suzanne Stevenson. Fire Chief Bill McLaughlin (left) looks on as Elk Creek firefighters work to free Angie.
CONIFER: Tuesday, March 13, 2012, was a pleasant day on the farm, unseasonably warm and sunny. As evening drew near Angie took a stroll through the pasture, as is her custom. She didn’t have much on her mind, seems she never really does. She rambled along without a care, until suddenly she realized she’d walked into a bog. She was knee-deep in mud. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank.
Angie is expecting, again, and she’s not as young as she once was. Try as she might she couldn’t pull free. Finally, exhausted and frightened Angie settled her 1,600-pound bulk into the mire and simply gave up. There she lay trapped in the cold mud, mooing woefully.
The farmer found her just after dark. He and his sons tried their best to free Angie, but quickly realized the task was too great. That’s when he placed the urgent 911-call for help.
Elk Creek Fire Department responded, sending firefighters and equipment to the scene. While in route, Deputy Fire Chief Pete Igel contacted the Jefferson County Horse Evacuation Assistance Team (Jeffco HEAT) and advised them of the situation.
Upon arrival Elk Creek Fire Department pulled a fire engine along one fence and a rescue vehicle along another. They trained powerful lights on the spot where Angie lay. With the pasture illuminated, firefighters waded into the mud and began digging with shovels and gloved hands in an effort to free the hapless bovine. Once they were sure Angie’s legs weren’t pinned beneath her, a strap was used to pull her (with considerable effort) out of the mud and onto a tarp. Then the firefighters wiped away as much mud as they could and covered her with blankets. Scott Halladay from Jeffco HEAT arrived, and he began caring for Angie. She was given water, and soon seemed less frightened than she had been.
With Angie out the mud and under the care of Jeffco HEAT the Elk Creek Fire crew packed up their gear (took turns hosing mud off one another), and returned to their regular job of looking out for the district’s two legged residents. Angie for her part watched the goings on and rolled her softball size eyes in wonder.
It just goes to show, the folks at Elk Creek Fire Department care deeply about all the residents of the Elk Creek Fire Protection District, even Angie the Cow.