Newly released body-camera footage has shed light on the harrowing experience of Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Deputy Brittan Morgan during the early hours of the Oregon Road fire evacuation on August 18.
The video, shared by the department on social media, showed Morgan’s heroic efforts as he navigated through a literal “hell on Earth,” putting his life on the line to warn and evacuate citizens caught in the fast-moving wildfire spurred on by high winds. Flames, billowing smoke and debris could be seen on all sides, with fiery trees threatening to fall onto the deputy’s vehicle at any moment.
“I don’t wanna f—ing die in this!” Morgan could be heard shouting in the video, which provides a raw glimpse at the officer’s dramatic escape.
“Deputy Morgan did not realize his camera was still on as he talked himself through this extremely terrifying moment. Clearly, he is not sure how it would end, but his determination to escape the flames is evident,” the SCSO wrote on Facebook.
Despite the critical circumstances, Morgan was determined to save lives by warning others of the danger he had been through. After previously engaging with one citizen who initially refused to evacuate his home, the deputy was relieved to later find that the man survived the flames, having just emerged from the fire-ravaged area. Morgan then assured him that he had done everything he could to save his animals and consoled him over his loss.
Amid the chaos, another individual approached Morgan, desperate to retrieve his semi-truck from the wildfire. However, Morgan was able to calmly and clearly convey that the fire was too dangerous to risk salvaging the truck.
As they spoke, another frantic woman approached, reporting that her father was trapped in a house within the fire’s path. Without hesitation, Morgan radioed the location to other first responders working in different parts of the evacuation zone to ensure that the man would be evacuated.
Fellow Deputy Nave, who also took part in the evacuation, later approached Morgan and shared his own experiences, discussing the possibility that others might not have made it out of the blaze.
The Oregon Road Fire, which began on August 18 and was later determined to be human-caused, claimed one life and ravaged an estimated 10,817 acres, along with over 120 homes and numerous outbuildings. Tragically, another fire, the Gray Fire, which ignited in the area on the same day, also claimed one life and scorched approximately 10,085 acres, destroying over 200 homes and numerous outbuildings. Assessments of the full extent of the damage are still ongoing.
“It is staggering and painful to think about the many people who lost their homes, property and everything they had, but thankfully, they escaped with their lives,” the SCSO wrote on Facebook. “Despite the enormous devastation and destruction, it is nothing short of a miracle that more lives weren’t lost, including many first responders who rushed into danger to warn others, saving the lives of many people in the area.”
