WA Firefighter Injured at Wildfire in Burn Unit

Fire officials say an Okanogan County Fire District 8 firefighter is in satisfactory condition after suffering burns at the Grass Valley Fire.

Brett Read, 38, was part of a two-person crew that was trying to evacuate an area near Coulee Dam when conditions changed.

“Read became separated from the engine he was working on and suffered burns during the incident,” Okanogan County Fire District 8 Chief Ed Townsend stated, according to ifiberone.com. “The second firefighter on Read’s engine was not injured.”

Townsend said the fire intensified unexpectedly forcing their retreat. 

Read is listed in satisfactory condition in the burn unit at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.

According to KXLY.com, Read has been volunteering with the fire district for seven years.

The fire has consumed over 74,000 acres.