Firefighter's truck stolen while participating in Seattle charity event

SEATTLE, WA (KTRK) -- A volunteer firefighter from Seely, Montana wants to know who took his truck filled with all of his firefighting equipment. He said it was stolen while he partook in a charity stair-climb at Seattle's Columbia Tower.

Shawn Ellinghouse said he was using his 2007 blue Toyota Tundra to store his pants, coats and air bottles, as well as his wife's credit cards, before it was stolen. According to Ellinghouse, all of the equipment inside was worth at least $10,000.

"I feel violated not only for stealing my gear, but my wife's personal belongings," Ellinghouse told ABC affiliate KOMO-TV. "I consider my vehicle a member of my family like my kids. It was almost my pride and joy."

Ellinghouse said he discovered his truck was missing after Sunday's charity event. He and hundreds of other firefighters from 26 states participated in the stair-climb to help raise money in the fight against cancer.

"We came here to do a good cause, and this kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth - not for Seattle, but the whole aspect of people can't leave stuff well enough alone," Ellinghouse said.

Ellinghouse's truck had Montana firefighter license plates with the number AJT-754. It is still missing.