Former Ferndale firefighter’s lawsuit accuses Fire District No. 7 of harassment
A former firefighter and EMT with Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court against the firehouse alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
Sheena Radder, who worked as firefighter in the Ferndale area from 2007-2024, said she was “forced to endure a workplace rife with harassment.” She alleged that her male coworkers made near-weekly unwelcome sexual and sexist comments, followed her around the workplace, ogled her while exercising, rated her and the few other female employees’ physical appearances, brushed her chest and hair with their fingers, told stories about sexual exploits and mimed masturbation with a fire hose.
She alleges a coworker stole her bra from her locker and hung it up in the firehouse. This was witnessed by senior district leaders, according to the lawsuit, but no actions were taken.
By 2023, Radder said she had “reached a breaking point.” Despite knowing that formally reporting the harassment could put her career at risk, Radder reported the harassment to Assistant Fire Chief Ben Boyko. The lawsuit alleged that Boyko told Radder she was making some “big accusations,” and the department responded with “swift, devastating retaliation.”
Radder alleged that she was denied a promotion and superiors transferred her to a new station, isolated her, took away her acting captain shifts, threatened her with discipline and accused her of “spreading disinformation.”
Whatcom County Fire District No. 7, whose service area includes the city of Ferndale and the Cherry Point Industrial area, said it was aware that the lawsuit was filed.
“While the District takes complaints of this nature very seriously, the legal claims in the lawsuit are without merit and the District intends to defend itself in court,” the fire district said in a statement to The Herald. “The District does not intend to comment any further on this pending legal matter.”
The fire district’s investigation confirmed that two managers had harassed Radder, according to the lawsuit. One harasser was barred from serving as acting captain for 45 days, but was then promoted to full captain.
Radder said that she was sent to a life coach as a result of the investigation and was told she needed to “assimilate into the culture” of the firehouse. Radder struggled to sleep and had nightmares about work.
The lawsuit specifically accuses Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 of allowing a hostile work environment, committing retaliation and violating Washington’s Silenced No More Act, which prohibits employers from banning employees from discussing illegal harassment.
Radder has since joined the staff of Whatcom Fire District No. 1 serving Everson, Nooksack, Deming and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, according to the district’s website.”
Radder is asking for a court order that ensures future District employees have a safe workspace free of sexual harassment and retaliation as well as monetary damages for lost wages and emotional harm. She is requesting a jury trial.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 2:28 PM.