By FireRescue1 Staff
KALAMA, Wash. — A firefighter was arrested after being accused of stealing a colleague’s vehicle while crews battled a wildfire.
KATU reported that Rian Struckman, a seasonal firefighter for the Kalama Fire Department, was charged with burglary, vehicle theft and trafficking stolen property after firefighters returned from battling the Eagle Creek Fire. They found a department truck, a Jeep and several personal items had been stolen.
Investigators said they were tipped off by a driver who works for an app called Ride Share after Struckman gave him a laptop as payment for a ride. The driver brought the laptop to police after seeing the news about the thefts on TV.
Struckman was arrested for stealing the department truck. There is no word yet on if he is linked to the theft of the Jeep, but police said they have identified people who were seen driving it.