
Okanogan County Firefighter Severely Injured, Remains In Coma At Seattle Hospital
READ ON
A Washington firefighter was badly burned over the Labor Day weekend while fighting a small brush fire in Okanogan County. He’s currently in a medically induced coma at a Seattle hospital.
Christian Johnson was helping fight a brush fire when he suffered second- and third-degree burns over more than half of his body. Johnson is the assistant fire chief with Okanogan County Fire District 3.
He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where doctors are working to stabilize him before they can perform skin grafts. His airway was also damaged. He was listed in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Johnson was fighting the Spring Coulee Fire. It burned for about an hour and a half on Sunday and has now been contained. The Washington Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause.
Last summer, volunteer Okanogan County firefighter Brett Read was injured while helping to put out the large Grass Valley Fire near Grand Coulee. In 2015, firefighters Rick Wheeler, Andrew Zajac and Tom Zbyszewski were killed and Daniel Lyon was badly injured near Twisp in Okanogan County.
Related Stories:

Precipitation, wind change slow growth of Spokane County wildfires
Workers remove trees impacted by the Gray Fire near Interstate 90. (Courtesy: Washington State Department of Transportation) Read By: Rebecca White / Spokane Public Radio Update: Interstate 90 has re-opened. Washington… Continue Reading Precipitation, wind change slow growth of Spokane County wildfires

Crews keep Newell Road Fire from reaching solar farm, landfill
The Newell Road Fire in south-central Washington has burned more than 50,000 acres. (Credit: Newell Road Fire Information, Facebook.) Read A fire in south-central Washington has threatened renewable energy projects,… Continue Reading Crews keep Newell Road Fire from reaching solar farm, landfill

Volunteer firefighter, EMT shortage straining local departments
Debby Carscallen, emergency medical service division chief for the Moscow Fire Department, says over the past five years it’s gotten harder to recruit volunteer EMTs and firefighters. At the same… Continue Reading Volunteer firefighter, EMT shortage straining local departments