Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Ottawa working to prevent further wildfire tragedy after deaths: environment minister

Share
OTTAWA -

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the federal government is doing everything it can to prevent further tragedy after four recent wildfire-related deaths.

On Thursday, a helicopter involved with firefighting operations , killing a pilot.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that he was "heartbroken to hear that another Canadian fighting wildfires has lost their life."

Adam Yeadon, 25, while fighting a wildfire near Fort Liard, N.W.T. Family members have said he was injured by a tree, but officials have not yet provided details about what happened.

Two days earlier, firefighter Devyn Gale, 19, on her near Revelstoke, B.C. Her death is now under investigation by police, the BC Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC and the BC Wildfire Service.

"Our thoughts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the two firefighters who've lost their lives," Guilbeault told reporters on Thursday, before news of the helicopter crash had emerged.

"We mourn their death but celebrate what they were doing, and their dedication to their communities and their countries."

This wildfire season has been worst in recorded history, with thousands of fires scorching more than 110,000 square kilometres of land across the country so far.

More than 885 wildfires are currently burning, 600 of which Guilbeault said are out of control.

Nearly 400 fires are burning in B.C. alone, with 13,935 square kilometres of land burned since April 1.

As of Thursday morning, Alberta had 117 active wildfires, 17 of which were considered out of control.

In Quebec, more than 15,000 square kilometres have burned in the more-populated southern half of the province since the start of the fire season, while almost 30,000 square kilometres have burned in the northern zone.

"We know that climate change makes wildfire season worse. And we're working to make sure that we're keeping people safe this year while getting ready for years to come," said Guilbeault.

Canadian Armed Forces troops are arriving in B.C. this week to join the battle, bringing helicopters and a Hercules aircraft, while the province has asked for 1,000 more international firefighters to join crews from Mexico, the United States and Australia that are already on the ground.

Guilbeault said Ottawa has spent more than $65 million since 2021 on the National Wildfire Management Program at Parks Canada, which supports wildfire risk reduction and the hiring and training of specialists.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2023.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.