A rescue meant to save a man and his dog from a steep embankment near Silvana last August has turned into a workplace safety scandal for Snohomish County Fire District 19, after state inspectors found that Chief Keith Strotz ordered firefighters without proper rope training to carry out the operation, then allegedly pressured them to stay quiet about it.
According to an inspection report from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, the man had gone down the embankment trying to rescue his lost dog, which had been barking at the bottom of the slope for eight to ten hours. The embankment dropped 15 feet to where the man and dog were stranded, with another roughly 100-foot drop just beyond that spot, as reported by HeraldNet. Strotz asked four first responders, including an administrative assistant, to perform a rescue that inspectors determined was beyond the department's operational capability, per the inspection report.
A Rescue Crew Without the Right Training
The rescuers used three lines, carabiners, harnesses and the chief's own rig as the anchor point, according to the same inspection report. The first firefighter sent down the embankment had been trained to assist with this type of rescue, but not to conduct one alone, the report states. Investigators concluded the crew lacked the training required for a technical rope rescue, and a citation later stated that Strotz did not fulfill his duty toward staff by ordering untrained personnel to conduct one.
State citations also found that the incident commander failed to prevent firefighters from being exposed to a safety hazard during an inadequately trained rescue, and that Fire District 19 lacked written procedures for its operational level. The district was originally cited for four serious violations, including three willful serious violations and one serious violation, and was initially fined $86,904. That fine was later reduced to $24,258 after the district agreed to purchase additional safety equipment, provide training, and hire an EMS medical advisor who will oversee emergency medical service personnel.
Chief Calls It a 'Happy Story,' Denies Silencing Crew
Strotz has defended the rescue as, in his words, a “happy story” and a “perfect training opportunity,” saying he did not view the response as an official rope rescue operation even though he knew his crew lacked certification, according to the initial HeraldNet report on the citations. He told the outlet the dog suffered only minor injuries and went to a veterinarian, and said no humans were hurt during the incident. Strotz also said he asked the property owner's wishes were behind a request that firefighters not take photos after the rescue, since the owner did not want pictures taken.
Firefighters told state inspectors a different story about what happened afterward. Per the inspection report, Strotz told the crew not to talk about the rescue or post anything online — an allegation he has denied. One anonymous firefighter told HeraldNet that speaking out against Strotz at work is very difficult, while another alleged the chief operates with little oversight and described him as acting like a king.
Career Fears Behind the Silence
Multiple rescue participants told a state inspector they were uncomfortable with the operation and did not feel safe, according to the inspection report the same document concluded firefighters could not refuse the rescue because Strotz influenced their eligibility for other jobs or station transfers within the district. Interviewed firefighters said such transfers and advancement opportunities are very rare in the district, leaving them feeling unable to say no without risking their careers, per the report cited by HeraldNet. One firefighter alleged they could not bring safety concerns to Strotz because he would make things miserable for them.
An inspector also alleged that Strotz was evasive when questioned about the crew's lack of training, per the inspection report. Strotz, for his part, said safety concerns can always be brought forward, and told HeraldNet on Wednesday that he did not know why fire district employees would be worried about speaking up. He added that the fine reduction provided some vindication and said he was happy to have saved taxpayer money, while maintaining that firefighter safety is the department's utmost concern.
Regulatory Backdrop and What Comes Next
Washington rules under Administrative Code 296-305-02019 require fire departments to maintain written operational procedures for rope rescues and keep detailed history logs for life safety ropes, while a related rule, 296-305-05113, requires departments performing technical rescues to follow National Fire Protection Association standards and ensure all participating personnel hold documented specialty training. Strotz told inspectors a certified technical rope rescue team was 45 minutes away at the time of the rescue, according to the report.
L&I spokesman Matt Ross said the citation covered violations observed during the investigation, and that employee allegations of intimidation were not included in the technical rescue citations themselves. He said the department could open a separate retaliation investigation if an employee who raised a safety concern formally reports facing retaliation, and that a follow-up safety and health inspection remains possible if additional information comes in.
A Department Built on Volunteers, Now Facing Scrutiny
Fire District 19, also known as the Silvana Fire Department, covers 22 square miles around Arlington, Marysville and Stanwood. The district was created by a public vote in 1959 through the merger of the volunteer Hill and Valley departments, and operated as an all-volunteer service for 45 years before hiring Strotz as its first full-time employee in February 2004. It is governed by a board of three elected commissioners, and the district's board chair did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the inspection findings, according to HeraldNet's reporting.
