A longtime firefighter says she endured years of sexual harassment inside a Whatcom County firehouse and was punished after reporting it, according to a new lawsuit.
The complaint, filed in Seattle federal court Thursday, April 23, alleges Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 in Ferndale fostered a workplace where harassment of female employees was tolerated and complaints were met with retaliation.
Sheena Radder, a firefighter/EMT who worked for the district from 2007 to 2024 and rose to acting captain, claims she experienced a decade-long pattern of misconduct by supervisors and coworkers, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint describes repeated incidents of alleged harassment, including coworkers stealing her bra from her locker and displaying it in the firehouse, making sexual comments on a near-weekly basis, and one firefighter forcibly attempting to kiss her without her consent.
Radder also alleges she was followed around the workplace, photographed without consent, and subjected to explicit comments and behavior in shared workspaces, often in view of supervisors who failed to intervene.
The lawsuit claims district leadership knew about the conduct for years but took no meaningful action to stop it.
When Radder pushed back or objected, the complaint says the behavior escalated and she was warned about potential discipline.
After formally reporting the harassment in 2023, Radder alleges the district retaliated against her. The lawsuit says she was denied a promotion, reassigned, removed from acting captain shifts, and isolated within the department.
The complaint also alleges the district publicly accused her of “spreading disinformation” and threatened disciplinary action tied to her complaints.
An internal investigation later confirmed that two managers engaged in harassing behavior, according to the lawsuit. Despite those findings, the complaint states the discipline was limited.
One employee was temporarily barred from acting in a leadership role before later being promoted, while another was allowed to retire early without further action, according to the filing.
Radder, meanwhile, was referred to a life coach and told she needed help with her “perception” that she was being treated differently, the lawsuit claims.
The complaint also alleges a broader culture issue within the department, noting the agency employed very few women and had no women in leadership roles during Radder’s tenure.
The lawsuit describes a workplace culture where Radder says she was treated differently because of her gender. When she spoke up, coworkers labeled her “aggressive,” “too confident,” and “bitchy,” according to the complaint.
Radder alleges male colleagues expected her to take on a “housekeeper” role at the station, including cooking and cleaning during shifts and even at community events while male firefighters socialized.
Despite earning a bachelor’s degree and a senior EMT instructor certification, Radder says less-qualified male employees were promoted ahead of her, according to the filing.
“No matter what she achieved, the District made clear that assertive women like Sheena were tolerated, not valued,” the lawsuit states.
Radder claims that during the investigation, she was warned not to discuss her allegations and was questioned in ways that suggested she may have contributed to the behavior.
Radder ultimately resigned in April 2024 after nearly 17 years with the department, saying the environment had become untenable.
She is now seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and other impacts, and is asking the court to order changes to workplace conditions within the district.
In a statement to Puget Press, Fire Chief Ben Boyko said Whatcom County Fire District 7 is aware of the lawsuit and takes the allegations seriously.
“However, the claims outlined in the lawsuit are without merit, and the District intends to defend itself in court,” he said.
Want more local news? Follow Puget Press Whatcom County on Facebook.
