powered by:
valneva canada inc.
firefighter morgan kitchen a tragic reminder of wildfire dangers: 'you're an inspiration and a hero'
those who run towards danger when others run away deserve unquestionable gratitude. when those actions lead to their death, these individuals become heroes
aug 6 2024
8 minute read
the tragic death of wildland firefighter morgan kitchen in the jasper blaze is a reminder of the ultimate sacrifices also made by four canadians battling the vicious 2023 canadian wildfires. photo of the mcdougall creek wildfire in west kelowna, b.c. in 2023 by darren hull / afp.
darren hull
/
afp via getty images
the death of a 24-year-old firefighter battling the vicious jasper blaze provided a stark reminder this past week of the tragic consequences that can result from wildfires. online posts have identified calgarian morgan kitchen as the firefighter who was killed by a falling tree while fighting the jasper wildfire.
“he was a much-loved character who brought streams of adventure, joy and fun,” said the tribute post to kitchen. “he was genuinely interested in and caring towards others, and lived a life that was about more than himself.”
as soon as news broke of the firefighter’s death, tributes began.
“this incident highlights the dangerous nature of wildland firefighting and the hazards that crew members encounter every day,” parks canada spokesman james eastham said in a statement.
“every single person responding to the jasper wildfire complex is in mourning today for our friend and colleague,” he said. “we are eternally grateful for the personal sacrifices first responders offer to protect canadians and their communities.”
morgan kitchen, 24, has been identified in online posts as the firefighter killed in the jasper wildfire. facebook photo.
it was a sentiment echoed across the nation, with prime minister justin trudeau releasing this post on x: “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.”
the loss is a painful reminder of last year’s wildfire devastation in canada that not only saw about 18.5 million hectares of land scorched; it also led to the deaths of four canadians battling the blazes. those losses were honoured in the postmedia book the summer canada burned , reflected in the following book excerpt.
advertisement
advertisement
‘she made my work sparkle with colour’
those who run towards danger when others run away deserve unquestionable gratitude. when those actions lead to their death, these individuals become heroes. tragically, that designation became applicable to four canadian firefighting personnel in july 2023.
devyn gale became the first to fall. like her brother and sister, the 19-year-old was a firefighter with the b.c. wildfire service. while doing brush clearing july 13 in a remote fire area near her hometown of revelstoke, devyn’s firefighting team lost contact with her. they later found her pinned under a fallen tree, but injuries she sustained led to her death after she was airlifted to hospital.
“devyn, you’re one of the best people i know . . . you’re an inspiration and a hero,” her brother nolan gale said at a celebration of devyn’s life. he also gave thanks for the few extra minutes he spent with devyn at the end of her life. he’d been working nearby and helped pull her from beneath the tree.
her sister, kayln, also honoured devyn at the event, calling her a compassionate, motivated woman. devyn also studied nursing at ubc okanagan.
“her heart was also open to enrich hers and others’ lives . . . she made my world sparkle with colour,” kayln said. “rest easy knowing we’ll never forget you.”
devyn gale, a motivated and much-loved 19-year-old, was the first of four firefighters to die in the canadian wildfires of 2023. photo courtesy nolan gale/instagram.
advertisement
advertisement
hundreds lined the streets of revelstoke to honour devyn’s memory, with members of the b.c. wildfire service, local fire departments and rcmp joining a solemn procession.
colleague stefan hood said devyn was someone who always had a smile on her face — “immensely beautiful and full of life.” she was a “gale force,” who loved her job and was always up for an adventure.
“i wonder if, like me, she planned her next camping trip based on the newly discovered landscape that unfolded before her with every flight to a fire. i wonder how many of those adventures remain planned and shelved, ready but never lived.”
‘your son is up here and he is powerful’
just two days after devyn gayle’s death, 25-year-old firefighter adam yeadon also died after being struck by a falling tree. the accident happened at a fire near his home community of fort liard, n.w.t. relentless heat had beat down on parts of northern canada throughout july. record-breaking and earth-baking temperatures robbed the soil of the little moisture that existed. by mid-july almost 100 active blazes raced through the northwest territories, as firefighters battled flames. for firefighter yeadon, july 15 would be his last battle.
yeadon — a loving partner, brother, son and father to a two-year-old daughter — found firefighting work to be a fulfilling pursuit. he could make a difference by helping to protect forests, the land and, at times, even people’s homes.
advertisement
advertisement
“he had peace in his heart. he had peace in his mind and he died happy,” his father jack yeadon told the canadian press. “he died doing the job that he loved.”
leaning on the poignant beauty and wisdom of indigenous teachings, jack also recalled the spectacular thunderstorm that occurred a day and a half after adam’s death. “i was connected to that storm,” jack said. “i think it was the universe saying, ‘jack, we are with you. your son is up here and he is powerful.’”
firefighter adam yeadon — a dedicated son, partner and father to a young child — was killed by a falling tree while battling wildfires in july 2023. photo courtesy yeadon family.
the death was the first firefighter fatality in the northwest territories in more than a half century. the last deaths had occurred in 1971, when four firefighters in the n.w.t. died in an aircraft accident and two others died after falling trees injured them.
the accidents sent waves of sorrow through the firefighting community. governments and forestry groups across the continent sent condolences to the families and friends of the fallen firefighters.
“the past week has been devastating for wildfire responders across the country,” yukon premier ranj pillai, community services minister richard mostyn and yukon wildland fire management said in a joint statement. “we are holding them, their colleagues and their loved ones in our thoughts as we mourn along with our neighbours.”
‘it was an honour and a gift to stand by his side’
advertisement
advertisement
tragedy persisted when a third person battling the blazes died, with this accident occurring 140 kilometres northeast of peace river, alberta. ryan gould, an alberta pilot, was flying a helicopter involved in the firefight when it crashed on july 19. the 41-year-old left behind a wife and two sons, so local folks in his hometown area — about 140 kilometres northwest of edmonton — organized a silent auction online and a crowdfunding campaign, raising more than a quarter million dollars to help gould’s family.
“it’s amazing what the community can do when we come together,” said kassy goodyer, a family friend from drayton valley.
goodyer — who’d known gould’s wife carlyn for approximately two years, as they both breed horses — said carlyn always spoke highly of her husband.
“he was a very private person, but he had such a big heart and would help anybody,” goodyer said, adding he was a good dad to his boys, gus and evan. “he did everything in his power to make sure the boys and carlyn were comfortable when he was away, and he made sure everything they needed was taken care of.”
gould fought fires in canada, as well as australia in the off-season. although he and his wife lived in the calgary region for a time, whitecourt — northwest of edmonton — was ryan’s hometown and the area where they settled. carlyn had been boarding her horses and the couple had worked their dream of acquiring an acreage, goodyer said.
advertisement
advertisement
when searching for land, they found “the perfect place” south of town, in the anselmo area, she said. friends now wanted to help carlyn keep this farm even with her husband gone. following the crash, an online fundraiser began on the website givesendgo, which raised more than $256,000 by the end of august. goodyer said she collaborated with others from the drayton valley area to get the crowdfunding underway. gould had worked with drayton valley residents during the wildfires in the spring, creating a link they wanted to honour.
“i never expected it to get that big, and it moved me to tears,” goodyer said. while the crowdfunding campaign took off, goodyer said members of the gypsy vanner horse breeding community also wanted to contribute something. the idea was hatched to hold a silent auction via social media, with services and donated items — including stallions — put up for bid.
carlyn and ryan gould and their sons; ryan was a helicopter pilot killed while fighting the 2023 wildfires. kassy goodyer/canadian press.
the support overwhelmed the family, with carlyn writing this on facebook: “my heart is shattered as the boys and i grieve the loss of our husband and dad, but also full from the outpouring of support that is helping to ease the financial burden this tragedy created.
“someday, when we are in a position to do so, we will make sure to pay it forward,” she said. “i will miss him forever, but i would not give up the blessed 17 years we had together to avoid the pain of this grief today and the rest of my days. he was worth it. it was an honor and a gift to stand by his side as his wife.”
‘we are so grateful for the time we had with him’
advertisement
advertisement
then — just when the fire community thought it could take no other losses — a fourth firefighter fell in the line of duty. originally from waterford, ontario, zachery (zak) freeman muise died july 28, just one day before his scheduled days off would have begun. in a remote area about 150 kilometres north of fort st. john, b.c., muise suffered fatal injuries when the utility vehicle he drove rolled over a steep drop. a helicopter transported the 25-year-old to hospital, but he passed away en route.
at a public memorial in penticton, b.c. (where his employer was headquartered) hundreds of friends and family members, including his parents and siblings, celebrated the life of a young man who always stood ready to assist those around him. full of heart-wrenching pride for muise’s choice — a life of service — the family said the loss could only be described as devastating.
“zak loved life and loved what he was doing. he will be missed by all who know him,” the family said in a statement. “we are so grateful for the time we had with him. we are grateful for all first responders. our hearts go out to all the families of fallen firefighters, first responders, and those left who are still fighting.”
zachery (zak) freeman muise, 25, was the fourth firefighter to die while battling the 2023 wildfires in canada. submitted.
the memorial included a stirring procession of firefighters and colleagues, led by a bagpiper, and remarks from penticton mayor julius bloomfield: “today is a difficult day. it is a difficult day for the family. but i look around and i see that zak probably had at least two families. he had a family that he belonged to, but he had the family who adopted him, the b.c. wildfire fighters.
advertisement
advertisement
“we are here to acknowledge the service that this young man gave and the ultimate price that he paid,” bloomfield said, turning to the family and adding: “thank you for raising a son who is prepared to help others and headed towards danger in order to protect others.”
the donnie creek wildfire that muise fought would no longer only be known as the biggest fire to ever strike b.c. now, it was also a blaze that led to the death of a firefighter.
“first responders play a critical role in safeguarding lives and communities,” said the public service alliance of canada. “unfortunately, incidents like these remind us how dangerous this work can be.”
the full book ‘the summer canada burned’ is available at local booksellers, at indigo via this link or through amazon by clicking here.
the summer canada burned — by postmedia and published by greystone books — explores the unprecedented wildfire season that occurred in canada in 2023.
to read more about morgan kitchen, click here.
share story
