Image: Whatcom County Fire District 14

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Ambulance struck by bullet

Whatcom County ambulance likely struck by bullet on Mount Baker Highway

Apr 7, 2025 | 1:52 PM

WHATCOM COUNTY (WASHINGTON STATE) — Whatcom County Fire District 14 says one of its emergency vehicles was struck by a wayward bullet late Sunday night (April 6) while it was transporting a patient with chest pain on Mount Baker Highway – with its emergency lights activated.

According to a statement from the public fire agency, unit A92 was transporting a patient at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday night to meet with its Advanced Life Support Partners at a local grocery store when the driver reported hearing a loud bang, that something had struck the windshield.

The incident happened between milepost 18 and 19 on Mt. Baker Highway (Highway 542).

Once the patient with chest pain was transferred to a waiting ALS ambulance from Bellingham Fire, emergency first responders returned home. Once they inspected the vehicle, it appeared that the ambulance had been struck by a bullet.

Whatcom County FD 14 says its law enforcement partners reviewed the windshield and concluded that their emergency vehicle was likely struck by an errant .223/5.56 bullet as they were driving down the highway. The bullet hit the ambulance’s windshield before ricocheting into the sheet metal.

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Whatcom County FD says no injuries were reported to either ambulance personnel or the patient who was being transported.

Image: Whatcom County Fire District

“Couple of lessons for this one, bullets, especially rifle rounds, travel a really long way when fired into the air or without a proper backstop,” Whatcom County FD said. “There has been both injuries and fatalities in our county from this in years past. We’re extremely fortunate that our patient and crew weren’t hurt or worse.”

The department is also asking people to use common sense around firearms.

“Additionally, please remember to follow the law and general ‘good ideas’ when discharging firearms,” Whatcom County FD said. “Have a good, solid backstop. Don’t shoot at night, don’t combine drugs & alcohol with firearms, and don’t point a firearm at anything you don’t want to put holes into (like ambulances!). For all the rules, check out WAC 332-52-145.”