Firefighter Christian Johnson succumbs to injuries

UPDATED WITH SERVICE INFORMATION

SEATTLE – Christian Johnson, 55, of Okanogan, Assistant Chief with Okanogan County Fire District #3, who was severely injured while fighting a wildfire last month, succumbed to his injuries at Harborview Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 2, surrounded by his wife, Pam, family and friends.

Johnson suffered second-and-third degree burns over more than half of his body while engaged in the Spring Coulee fire that ignited at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, just off B&O Road North between Fletcher Loop Road and Spring Coulee Road. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was placed in a medically induced coma.

In a statement from the Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said: “Everyone at DNR is holding the family of Assistant Chief Christian Johnson in our hearts. Christian, an Army veteran and a member of Okanogan County Fire District 3, is a hero.”

Johnson, an Army sergeant, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, from November 2003 until May 2005 with the Washington State National Guard. He retired after 22 years of military service and volunteered with the Okanogan Fire Department for 20 years.

In an Oct. 3, media release Maurice Goodall with Okanogan County Emergency Management wrote: “The family is grateful for the loving care Christian received from Harborview Medical Center staff and the unwavering support they received from the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, Washington Wildland Fire Foundation or the Red Cross.

A celebration of Johnson’s life is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24, at a time to be determined in the Agriplex at the Okanogan County fairgrounds.