Helicopter Pilot Dies Fighting Alberta Forest Fire, Third Firefighter Death This Month

Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, July 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Noah Berger

A helicopter pilot has died in a crash in Alberta’s northern Peace River area while fighting wildfires.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) issued a deployment notice on July 20, stating it was sending a team of investigators to Alberta following an accident involving a Bell 205A helicopter during firefighting operations near Peace River.

TSB spokesman Chris Krepski said an emergency locator (ELT) signal was received on July 19 at approximately 6 p.m. local time indicating the aircraft was in a marshy location northeast of Peace River. The aircraft was operated by Valhalla Helicopters, which has not commented on the tragedy.

Mr. Krepski told The Epoch Times that it is “too early to determine the causes and contributing factors” to the pilot’s death, however, he said the helicopter collided with the terrain northeast of Peace River in a very remote location near Haig Lake.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesman, Corporal Troy Savinkoff, told the Epoch Times on July 20 that due to the remoteness of the crash site, RCMP officers were flown to the site after receiving a report of a missing helicopter and pilot around 7 p.m. on July 19.

“Forestry workers were doing CPR on the lone occupant of the helicopter, who had been engaged in firefighting operations. The pilot was taken to the Peace River airport where he was declared deceased. The deceased has been identified as a 41-year-old male resident of Whitecourt, Alta.,” said Cpl. Savinkoff.

He said the RCMP would not be providing any further updates as the TSB would be investigating and taking over the scene.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith offered condolences, saying, “From the bottom of my heart I want to thank the brave men and women who are working every day to keep our province safe on the front lines. This tragic loss is a reminder of how they put their lives on the line to keep us all safe.”

French firefighters battle fires north from the city of Chibugamau, Quebec, in Canada on June 12, 2023. Canada has been hit hard by unprecedented wildfires that have ravaged the country. Photo by Quentin TYBERGHIEN/AFP via Getty Images

BC Firefighter Killed

The latest death is one of a few that have occurred during this year’s extreme, record-setting fire season. On July 13, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) issued a statement saying that a female firefighter lost her life fighting a wildfire outside of Revelstoke.

The firefighter, killed after being struck by a falling tree, was identified on July 16 by the BC Wildfire Service as 19-year-old Devyn Gale

“On Thursday evening [July 13] our hearts broke. Devyn Gale was an initial attack crew member out of the Columbia Fire Zone in Revelstoke,” said the service.

“She was a trusted colleague, a loving friend, a beloved sibling and a cherished daughter,” the service said in a tribute on social media.

The BC Wildfire Service said Ms. Gale was an “outstanding third year firefighter,” who was working towards becoming a nurse.

The union promised a thorough WorkSafeBC investigation into the firefighter’s death, and said that it was “committed to making occupational health and safety the highest priority in our worksites.” The union added it was providing counselling and support for the woman’s colleagues.

B.C. Premier David Eby issued condolences on July 14, following the news, stating, “This is a tremendous loss for everyone involved with the BC Wildfire Service at an already challenging time, and our hearts are with them all.”

N.W.T Death

On July 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his condolences, after news that a firefighter working in the Northwest Territories had died while battling wildfires. The territory issued a statement saying that a firefighter from Fort Liard had died from injuries sustained during firefighting duties on July 15.

The firefighter was fighting a blaze at a hamlet, north of the B.C. border, that had started July 7 in the Ford Liard District, according to Wildfire Information Officer Jessica Davey-Quantick.

Fort Liard Mayor Genevieve McLeod said that the firefighter who died was “young and hardworking,” and had a young family.

He was later identified as Adam Yeadon, a 25-year-old indigenous man with a two-year-old daughter. His dad, Jack Yeadon, said he loved his job fighting forest fires and had been doing it for several years.

“He had peace in his heart. He had peace in his mind and he died happy. He died doing the job that he loved,” said his father.

He said when his son was not fighting fires, he worked for his family company delivering firewood to help keep the community warm during the winter.

Natural Resources Canada has said that the forecast suggests the wildfire season will continue to be extreme throughout the remainder of the summer months.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.