Missing Seattle Firefighter Found Dead In Kittitas County

SEATTLE — A 12-day effort to locate a missing Seattle deputy fire chief ended Sunday after search teams found the body of Jay Schreckengost, 56, in the mountains near Cliffdell, a rural area west of Ellensburg.

"We're saddened to give news of Chief Schreckengost's passing to his family and fellow firefighters, and we ask the public and press to respect their privacy as they grieve his loss," said Kittitas County Sheriff Clay Myers. "We also want to thank everyone who participated in or supported this search. It was a tremendous outpouring of resources and effort that produced a vital result: a family knows what happened to their loved one and he can be brought home to them."

A robust search for Schreckengost began on Nov. 3 after he went scouting for elk off State Route 410 and failed to meet up with his son the next day. According to the sheriff's office, more than 60 agencies assisted with the search, along with dozens of trained volunteers. Ultimately, Schreckengost was found about a half-mile from where he left his truck, officials said.

According to the sheriff's office, an early investigation revealed no signs of foul play, and the Kittitas County Coroner will make an official determination on the cause of death.

The Seattle Fire Department shared a note Sunday night, thanking the community for their overwhelming support during the search.

The statement reads in part:

"We are incredibly saddened by this news and are all grieving the loss of one of our own. Deputy Chief Schreckengost was a husband, father and friend to all, and our hearts are with his family right now who have been at the site every day searching alongside search and rescue, fire and law enforcement agencies.

Over the past 12 days since Jay was first reported missing, more than 60 different agencies and 160 SFD members responded to the site, determined to find our beloved member.

We want to acknowledge the tremendous support of the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office in leading the effort to find Jay. They, along with all of the technical teams and search and rescue volunteers, conducted an extensive search that led to today’s discovery. We are grateful, too, for the support of businesses, who provided food and lodging and set up critical radio and cellular networks, and members of the community.

While the outcome is not what we would have hoped, we know that this will bring closure to Jay’s family, friends and colleagues."