An officer with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department in Wisconsin saved three cows trapped in a raging barn fire on the morning of June 25, according to footage and a statement released by police.

The rescue operation was captured on Officer Andrew Crabb’s body camera and shortly after went viral.

According to the department, Officer Crabb was on patrol in the early hours of his overnight shift when he noticed thick black smoke billowing from a nearby farm, initially mistaking it for haze from Canadian wildfires. However, upon closer inspection, he realized the smoke originated from a barn engulfed in flames.

Officer Crabb recounted the urgency of the moment.

“Once I realized what was going on inside that barn, I realized the gate didn’t get undone and those cows were not going to make it.”

Seeing the dire predicament of the cows, he reacted immediately and entered the burning structure. He then managed to unlock the gate amid the thick smoke and scorching heat, giving the animals an escape route.

According to the officer, thee cows exhibited remarkable intuition and wasted no time in making their way to safety.

“And I didn’t have to really encourage them too much. They knew exactly what they needed to do once that gate was open,” Crabb shared.

As they joined the rest of the herd in the pasture, Officer Crabb said he was relieved. He then removed himself from danger and witnessed firefighters arrive to extinguish the flames.

Sturgeon Bay Police Department took to social media to share the heart-warming story, ensuring the community that everyone involved was safe.

The post expressed gratitude for Officer Crabb’s swift response in freeing the cows from the burning barn.

Officer Crabb also commended the all-volunteer fire brigade in the area for managing to contain the flames and salvaging the majority of the structure. Their prompt response played a crucial role in preventing further damage and ensuring the safety of all involved.

9-1-1 dispatcher Jaci Bear, who happened to also be the daughter of the farm’s owner, expressed her appreciation on the Sturgeon Bay Police Department’s Facebook post.

“Thank you, Officer Crabb, for not only seeing the fire and calling it in but saving the three new cattle my dad was housing,” Bear wrote. “It could have been far worse, and I’m grateful for the amazing men and women who showed up and saved what they could.”

As of now, the owner of the farm has not responded to inquiries about the cause of the fire or details about the damage.