By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
REVELSTOKE, British Columbia — A 19-year-old firefighter has died while battling a wildfire in Canada, the first casualty of this year’s historic wildfires that have scorched over 23 million acres across the country.
Devyn Gale was struck and killed by a falling tree near Revelstoke, British Columbia, on July 13, the Vancouver Sun reported.
Gale was working alongside a team clearing brush within a remote area where a small fire had started.
“Upon the firefighting team losing contact with their fellow firefighter, they discovered her caught under a fallen tree. They immediately began first aid,” Corporal James Grandy stated in a news release on Friday.
Gale was flown to the Queen Victoria Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Gale’s brother, Nolan, posted on Instagram that his sister was “kind and thoughtful,” and he is grateful to have grown up alongside her.
CTV News reported that the British Columbia General Employees’ Union, the union that represents wildland firefighters in the territory, shared in a statement that Gale’s death is a reminder of how dangerous their work is: “British Columbia wildland firefighters are renowned for their teamwork and incredible service to our communities. Each and everyone is committed to ensuring that their fellow members return from work safely while protecting our resources and our communities.”