Okanogan firefighter dies from injuries sustained in September wildfire

After suffering extensive burns fighting a wildfire south of Okanogan, Washington, last month, Christian Johnson, 55, died Wednesday.

Johnson sustained second- and third-degree burns to more than 60% of his body fighting the Spring Coulee Fire on Sept. 1.

He spent the last month at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and underwent multiple surgeries.

In a joint statement Thursday, Okanogan County Emergency Services and Johnson’s family thanked the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation for their “unwavering support.”

On his Go-Fund-Me page, Johnson is described as “a selfless man, who is always willing to help those in need, and never ask for anything in return.”

Johnson was the assistant chief of the Okanogan Volunteer Fire Department and volunteered with Okanogan County Fire District 3 for 20 years.

Before that, he spent 22 years in the U.S. Army and was deployed with the Washington State National Guard to Baghdad from 2003 to 2005.

Okanogan County Emergency Management said a celebration of life will be announced after arrangements have been finalized.