A South King Fire & Rescue engine was struck at high speed Sunday morning, Sept. 21, 2025 while firefighters were responding to a rollover crash on I-5, injuring a firefighter and two drivers, the agency said.
The incident began at about 6:43 a.m. Sunday when crews were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover in the southbound lanes of I-5 near the 37500 block, according to South King Fire.
A patient who had been ejected from the vehicle reported head and neck pain.
Officials said that Engine 361 was positioned north of the crash to provide blocking for responders, with Engine 364 extending the safety zone. At 6:58 a.m., another vehicle struck Engine 361 at a high rate of speed. The engineer inside was injured but had been wearing a seatbelt, South King Fire said. He was evaluated and transported by King County Medic One for non-life-threatening injuries.
Tri-Med transported both the driver who hit the fire engine and the original rollover crash patient, each with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the agency.
Engine 361 sustained significant damage and was taken out of service. A reserve engine was placed in service immediately to ensure no interruption in fire and emergency response.
Firefighter Safety on Freeways
Operating on high-speed roadways remains one of the most dangerous environments for firefighters. Every response includes strict safety measures such as strategic apparatus placement, use of high-visibility gear, and coordination with law enforcement partners to protect both first responders and the public. Incidents like this reinforce why those practices are critical and why they are followed every time our firefighters respond to freeway emergencies. Drivers play a vital role in keeping first responders safe by slowing down, paying attention, and moving over when approaching emergency scenes.
Importance of Reserve Apparatus
Maintaining a fleet of reserve fire engines is also vital to community safety. When frontline units are damaged or placed out of service, reserve apparatus allow South King Fire to continue responding without delay. This readiness ensures the continuity of emergency services that our community depends on, regardless of unexpected events.
“Thank you to all our community partners for their response and support during a very dynamic incident. We are thankful that no one was seriously injured,” South King Fire said in a statement.
