Lawmaker's Son Dies Fighting Fire

MOSES LAKE - Jeremy Chandler, the 27-year-old son of state Rep. Gary Chandler, died Monday afternoon while fighting a brush fire near Moses Lake.

The younger Chandler was a volunteer fire fighter with Grant County Fire District 5 since 1992.

Battalion Chief Leonard Johnson said crews responded to a 20-acre brush fire at 1:42 p.m. near Stratford Road and Road 7 Northeast. A total of 11 fire fighters on eight pieces of apparatus from Fire District 5 responded, including a water tanker manned by Chandler.

Johnson said Chandler collapsed during the fire-fighting effort at about 2:16 p.m. Other crew members at the scene immediately came to his aid and administered CPR. They were unable to revive him.

According to Johnson, Chandler was well trained for the type of alarm he responded to, having completed his wildland red card certification in 1997.

The cause of death is unknown and is under investigation by the Grant County coroner’s office.

The Grant County Fire Marshal’s office is still investigating the cause of the blaze.

Chandler’s father was immediately notified of his son’s death while working at a special legislative session in Olympia. He was flown via State Patrol plane back to Moses Lake.