Firefighter injured in Spring Coulee fire

OKANOGAN—An Okanogan County firefighter was injured fighting a grass fire near Okanogan Sunday afternoon and flown out with serious burns.

Assistant Chief Christian Johnson with Okanogan County Fire District #3, Okanogan, was injured while engaged on the Spring Coulee Fire.

Johnson was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is currently in a medically-induced coma, a spokesman for Okanogan County Emergency Management said Monday night.

Johnson has second- and third-degree burns over 50 to 60 percent of his body, and his airway has been scored at 2 out of 4 for damage (4 being the worst). They were attempting to stabilize him so they could perform surgery for skin grafts.

Accounts have been set up to assist his family with whatever may be needed during their crisis. Donations can be made to Christian Johnson Donation Account at North Cascades Bank, PO Box 672, Okanogan WA 98840, or to a Go Fund Me account for Assistant Chief Christian Johnson.

The Spring Coulee Fire started at about 4 p.m., Sunday just off B & O Road North between Fletcher Loop Road and Spring Coulee Road, just southwest of the city of Okanogan.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., after burning nearly 142 acres, the Spring Coulee Fire was contained and in mop-up stage.

The state Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of the fire.