Seattle fire chief who was missing for nearly two weeks found dead in mountain area

The body of a Seattle deputy fire chief was found in a mountainous area east of Seattle nearly two weeks after he was reported missing and a massive search was launched.

Seattle Deputy Fire Chief Jay Schreckengost, 56, was last heard from on Nov. 2 when he said he was going to go scout elk for a hunting trip with his son near the city of Cliffdell, more than 70 miles southeast of Seattle.

After Schreckengost failed to return, the Kittitas County Sheriff Department launched a search of the Cliffdell area and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest with 60 agencies and organizations that included hundreds of people.

On Sunday, the sheriff's department announced Schreckengost's body was found near Cliffdell about half a mile near where his pickup was discovered. Authorities said there is no initial evidence of suspicious activity or foul play, and the Kittitas County Coroner will conduct an investigation to confirm the cause of death. 

“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," Sheriff Clay Myers said in a statement. He also thanked those that aided the search so the family "knows what happened to their loved one and he can be brought home to them."

In a statement Sunday night, the Seattle Fire Department said it was "incredibly saddened by this news" and was grieving the loss.

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

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