DNR Commissioner Franz statement regarding the death of firefighter Christian Johnson

OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz this morning (Thurs., Oct. 3) issued the following statement regarding the death of Assistant Chief Christian Johnson, an Okanogan Fire District 3 firefighter injured in the line of duty last month:

 

"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. He sustained severe burns last month while fighting the Spring Coulee Fire south of Okanogan and was placed in a medically induced coma.

"I cannot imagine how difficult and heart wrenching this time has been for his family. Even though Christian was not a DNR firefighter, we consider him one of our own, and his family, friends, and colleagues are in our prayers."