Firefighters work in Jasper, Alta., on July 26.AMBER BRACKEN/The Canadian Press
Hundreds of firefighters battling a raging wildfire near Jasper took a moment Sunday to mourn one of their own, while a scheduled tour of residents of the fire-ravaged Alberta town was postponed out of respect for the young man who died in the line of duty.
The firefighters lined the highway through neighbouring Hinton as a funeral procession in the morning passed by to honour a 24-year-old Calgarian who died after being struck by a falling tree the day before.
James Eastham, an information officer for the Jasper Wildfire Complex Unified Command, said fire crews took an operational pause to grieve the loss of their friend and colleague.
The fallen firefighter, who has not been publicly identified, was part of a 700-person crew that has been working to stifle the wildfire threatening Alberta’s marquee mountain community of Jasper and surrounding Jasper National Park.
“The wildland fire community is really small and every time there’s a loss like this, it deeply impacts all of us,” said Mr. Eastham. “This incident highlights the dangerous nature of wildland firefighting and the hazards that crew members encounter every day when they’re doing their work.”
Parks Canada, in an update on Sunday, said the firefighter was hit by a tree at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday. Fellow crew members provided the individual with first aid and, alongside safety specialists, used a wheeled stretcher to transport him to the closest helipad where an air ambulance was waiting.
“Tragically, despite efforts of the first responders and STARS air ambulance team specialists, the injured firefighter did not survive and was pronounced deceased shortly after transfer to STARS,” said the federal agency.
RCMP said Occupational Health and Safety had been notified and would investigate the fatality.
Condolences spread on social media throughout the weekend from fire departments, the public and politicians from across the country, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and members of their cabinets.
“Heartbroken by the news that a firefighter has lost his life while battling the wildfires in Jasper. He served Albertans with unwavering bravery, and his loss is deeply felt,” posted Mr. Trudeau on X.
“As a father and grandfather, the loss of a young firefighter is hard to bear,” said Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen, who had to collect himself before completing his provincial wildfire update on Sunday.
“I know that I speak unanimously from my caucus colleagues in sending heartfelt sympathies to this courageous young man’s family and friends. I want to recognize his unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. This will never be forgotten.”
Mr. Loewen said the government is working with the deceased’s family on the release of further details on his death, but that the man’s loved ones are asking for privacy at this time.
Jasper residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfire had been told they would be able to tour the community for the first time on Sunday. However, Joe Zatylny, deputy managing director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, said the tours were postponed to Monday after the death was reported. Jasper residents were notified of the delay Saturday.
Mr. Zatylny said about 120 families are registered to go through the Jasper townsite.
The death is the first known fatality linked to the wildfires that forced the evacuation of up to 25,000 people from the town and surrounding Jasper National Park about two weeks ago. Fire, soon after, ripped through about 30 per cent of the town’s structures, mostly homes.
Parks Canada said hot and dry conditions are driving fire behaviour and that crews remained focused on protecting the community, outlying accommodations and critical infrastructure. It said it is working to open campgrounds – critical to the local economy – as soon as “ongoing priorities and safety allow” but some sites have sustained significant damage.
At least four firefighters died across the country while battling wildfires during last year’s record fire season. In British Columbia, 25-year-old Zak Muise, a firefighter from Ontario, died after his heavy-duty ATV rolled over a steep drop on a gravel road while battling the massive Donnie Creek blaze and 19-year-old Devyn Gale was struck by a tree while fighting a wildfire near Revelstoke.
Adam Yeadon, 25, was also killed after being hit by a falling tree while attacking a fire near Fort Liard, a hamlet in the Northwest Territories. In Alberta, 41-year-old Ryan Gould died when his helicopter crashed during firefighting operations near Haig Lake.