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 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. 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’s statement said.

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

AUPE president Guy Smith said in a statement on Sunday 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.”

A wildfire update is scheduled for Sunday afternoon where officials will be available for questions.

More to come.

[email protected] @kccindytran

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