Stevens County Firefighters Receive PETA Award for Frozen Lake Deer Rescue

Stevens County Fire Protection District 1 has received the Compassionate Fire Department Award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) following a rescue operation on the frozen surface of Loon Lake. The commendation recognizes the team’s decisive response to an animal in distress under hazardous winter conditions, highlighting a commitment to animal welfare that extends beyond typical fire suppression duties.

The incident required an immediate, high-risk intervention for a deer trapped on the ice. Firefighter Gavyn Gallagher undertook the most perilous part of the operation, advancing nearly 500 feet from the shoreline across ice described as dangerously thin to reach the stranded animal. This distance underscored the significant physical hazard involved in the intervention.

Realizing the urgency and the animal's panic, Gallagher adapted his strategy, making the critical decision to physically secure the distressed deer by enveloping the creature before the team could safely extract both from the precarious ice. This personal action was pivotal in preventing further panic or injury to the deer and ensuring the rescuer's safety during extraction.

Following the successful retrieval, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer Grant Samsill assessed the deer. After confirming the animal sustained no lasting injuries, Officer Samsill facilitated its release back into nearby wooded areas. This multi-agency coordination between the fire district and the state wildlife authority ensured a responsible conclusion to the emergency call.

PETA issues such recognitions to first responders who demonstrate exceptional compassion for animals, particularly during severe weather challenges. Wildlife experts note that frozen bodies of water present a significant hazard to large mammals like deer, which lack the necessary traction for slick, unstable surfaces. The successful outcome, with the deer released unharmed, serves as an example of community service extending to all living beings within the district's jurisdiction.