The Alberta Wildfire member who died last weekend fighting the Jasper wildfire has been identified as Morgan Kitchen, 24, from Calgary.
His friends and family identified him on social media, with an online tribute saying he served in the Canadian Armed Forces and British Royal Marines.
On Saturday afternoon (Aug. 3), Kitchen died after a tree fell on him while he was fighting an active fire northeast of the Jasper townsite.
The firefighter’s crew provided immediate first aid before he was transported by a wheeled stretcher to the nearest helipad.
He was flown to the Parks Canada Operations Compound in Jasper and transferred to STARS, but he was pronounced deceased shortly after.
His death sparked condolences from across Canada, including from public figures such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and reminded the public about the dangers inherent in fighting wildfires.
The online tribute described Kitchen as a “bold and brilliant personality” and “a talented athlete, musician, singer, comedian and actor.”
“He could have been a gifted teacher, but he was wired to be a first responder,” the post stated. "The lifestyle and people drew him in. The photos and stories his crew shared of his last few months reflect a genuinely happy man doing what he loved in a place as wild and free as he was."
The post added that Kitchen is survived by his parents, stepparents, six siblings and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles and “a thick network of friend.”
