AMHERSTVIEW, Ontario — A Canadian firefighter was killed Saturday while battling an apartment blaze.
Patrick Pidgeon, 45, was a Canadian Forces veteran and worked for the Loyalist Township Emergency Services.
Pidgeon was badly injured after firefighters were called to an apartment complex fire. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, reported CBC.
Roughly 80 apartment units still evacuated after firefighter killed in fire near Kingston yesterday #LODD pic.twitter.com/8GoZW7D3wr
— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) July 17, 2016
“There was a lot of panic,” Colleen Le Clair, a resident at the apartment complex said. “I thought personally, ‘Oh, he’s in there doing his job.’ But then he started screaming for help. He was in trouble.”
Pidegon’s death is the first workplace fatality for Ontario firefighters since 2011; news of his death prompted an outpouring of condolences and support from departments via social media.
“I’m sure the department is suffering right now,” Chief Paul Boissonneault, of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re protecting the people who protect us.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs released the following statement Sunday:
“On behalf of Ontario’s fire chiefs, our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family, friends, and fellow firefighters of Loyalist Township Emergency Services firefighter Patrick Pidgeon. Mr. Pidgeon perished fighting a fire in Amherstview yesterday.
Across the province, career and volunteer firefighters, deputies, and chiefs work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all Ontarians. It is particularly difficult when we lose one of our own in the line of duty, and it reminds all of us about the importance of the health and safety of our first responders.
The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs represents the chief fire officers of the 454 municipal fire departments in the Province of Ontario. Our mission is to lead innovation and excellence in public and firefighter safety.”
It is with heavy hearts that we announce this evening, Loyalist Township Emergency Services lost one of its own earlier today.
— Loyalist Fire (@LoyalistFire) July 17, 2016
Roughly 80 apartment units still evacuated after firefighter killed in fire near Kingston yesterday #LODD pic.twitter.com/8GoZW7D3wr
— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) July 17, 2016
We are saddened to hear of the Line of Duty Death of a firefighter in Amherstview ON. It is dangerous work we do. #sadday
— Bible Hill Fire (@BHFB) July 17, 2016