Canada’s worst wildfire season on record has now killed three people working on the front lines in the last week as 600 wildfires continue to burn out of control.
The death was the third during firefighting operations in the last week. On July 13, 19-year-old firefighter Devyn Gale died after a tree fell on her near Revelstoke, B.C. Then on Saturday, 25-year-old firefighter Adam Yeadon died from injuries he sustained while working to contain a blaze near his home in Fort Liard in the Northwest Territories.
“We are fortunate that there’s been few loss of lives, although tragic certainly, and few economic impacts or impacts to infrastructure and houses but obviously we are working very hard to limit those as much as we can,” Mr. Guilbeault said. “To have lost three firefighters, or individuals helping out in fighting the fires, is heartbreaking. Every single time one of these first responders or firefighters steps up, they’re doing it to keep their fellow citizens safe and they have families as well who worry about them when they go out,” Mr. Trudeau said.Premier Danielle Smith issued a statement on Twitter Thursday offering condolences on behalf of all Albertans to the pilot’s family and friends.
The new evacuation order covers nine properties after several were destroyed earlier in the week by the St. Mary’s River fire near Cranbrook that is burning out of control.