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Online posts identified the firefighter killed in the Jasper fire as 24-year-old Morgan Kitchen.
Kitchen, a Calgarian, was an Alberta wildfire crew member who served in the Canadian Armed Forces and the British Royal Marines, according to a social media obituary.
The tribute describes Kitchen as brave, brilliant and 100 percent authentic, with a genuine interest in caring for others. He was a “much-loved character who provided plenty of adventure, joy and fun.”
He is described as a talented athlete, musician, singer, comedian and actor who is “built to be a first responder.”
Kitchen died after sustaining a serious injury from a falling tree while fighting a fire northeast of Jasper. He was recovered from the scene by STARS rescue helicopter and pronounced dead.
“This incident highlights the dangerous nature of wildfire fighting and the hazards that responders face on a daily basis,” Parks Canada said in a statement shortly after the incident.
“Every single person working at the Jasper Wildfire Complex mourns the loss of our friend and colleague today… We are eternally grateful for the personal sacrifices first responders make to protect Canadians and their communities.”
According to RCMP, Kitchen lived in Calgary and was stationed at the Rocky Mountain House Fire Base.
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