Jasper tour postponed to Monday out of respect for fallen firefighter

Alberta is postponing tours to Jasper out of respect for a wildland firefighter who was killed on Saturday while fighting the fires in Jasper.

According to an Alberta RCMP news release, a 24-year-old Calgary man was seriously injured by a falling tree while fighting an active fire northeast of Jasper. STARS air ambulance extracted him from the scene, and he was declared dead, RCMP said.

In a statement to Postmedia, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) said it is postponing Sunday’s bus tours for Jasper residents until Monday out of respect for the fallen firefighter.

“Alberta’s government is deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of one of the wildland firefighters who was bravely battling the fires in Jasper National Park,” AEMA’s statement said.

“Out of respect for the family, crew and all those impacted by this tragedy, the bus tours that were to take place today for Jasper residents are being postponed by 24 hours.”

AEMA said residents who had signed up for the tours were notified Sunday night and the province would be in contact to keep them informed.

Despite the tours being cancelled, officials said they would be working to schedule tours for Monday. They stressed tours are dependent on the ongoing fire situation.

Joe Zatylny, AEMA’s deputy managing director, said multiple buses will pass through Jasper with a rest stop in Hinton. He said there are currently 120 families registered.

“We are planning for several buses to go through the townsite each day as long as we can ensure conditions are safe. Safety will always be our first priority,” Zatylny said.

When asked when buses would depart from Edmonton, Zatylny did not have that information.

Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen offered his condolences to the firefighter’s family at a press conference on Sunday. He said before they provide more information about the circumstances of the firefighter’s death, they are working with his family first out of respect and privacy.

“I know that I speak unanimously for my caucus colleagues in sending heartfelt sympathies to this courageous young man’s family and friends. I want to recognize his unwavering commitment to protecting our communities,” Loewen said.

“This will never be forgotten.”

AUPE president Guy Smith said in a Sunday statement that colleagues and fellow union members were “shocked and saddened” by the death of one of their own.

“The tragic loss of one of our members while fighting the Jasper forest fire is hard to bear. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” Smith said.

“We are also thinking of his crew members and other wildland firefighters who continue to put their lives on the line fighting this and other forest fires.”

[email protected] @kccindytran

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