Crossposted from the KCSO Newsletter

On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 6, just before 7 p.m., Marine Unit Deputy Matt Martin and Deputy Alex Thomas were making a routine patrol and safety check on Lake Sammamish. During their rounds, they observed a significant plume of smoke forming along the lake’s western shoreline. Sensing a potential danger, Deputies Martin and Thomas went to investigate and located the beginnings of a small brush fire.

Responding promptly, they moored their Marine boat at a dock and immediately acted, utilizing both lake water and their equipment to extinguish the flames. By a fortunate twist of fate, a proactive onlooker from a nearby social event swiftly joined the effort, employing buckets to battle the flames. Coincidentally, this selfless individual happened to be none other than Deputy Connor Paczosa, an off-duty KCSO Deputy who, after a recent viral post, is now fondly known as “the llama guy.”

The combined efforts of this water-wielding trio and several other active bystanders led to the successful containment of the fire before the Bellevue Fire Department arrived. Their collaborative and swift response prevented a potentially hazardous fire from escalating. Great job!