Calgary mourns firefighter Morgan Kitchen, as Jasper wildfire no longer out of control

Family and friends in Calgary mourn the loss of firefighter Morgan Robert Kitchen in a memorial service Saturday, who lost his life battling the recent Jasper wildfires, which were announced to no longer be out of control.

Surrounded by fellow Alberta firefighters standing at attention in their yellow and green uniforms, heads bowed for this solemn moment.

Kitchen, 24, served in the Canadian Armed Forces and British Royal Marines, and was based out of the Rocky Mountain House Fire Base, about 200 kilometres north of Calgary.

He was fighting the blaze on Aug. 3 when he was fatally struck by a tree at around 2 p.m.

A procession was held by Parks Canada, Alberta Wildfire, RCMP, and the military all paid tribute to the 24-year-old the day after it happened.

Inside Centre Street Church in Calgary’s northeast, family, friends and colleagues gather to provide comfort to each other in this moment of grief. To share stories and remind themselves of the dangers of such a profession.

Morgan’s obituary reads “he was a talented athlete, musician, singer, comedian and actor.”

“He could have been a gifted teacher but was wired to be a first responder. A genuinely happy man doing what he loved in a place as wild as he was.”

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Parks Canada extended its heartfelt condolences to “Morgan’s parents, stepparents, siblings and all those who knew and loved him.”

“In addition to his much-loved character, his family describes him as ‘generous and hospitable and genuinely interested in and caring toward others – he lived a life that was about more than himself.’

“This loss is felt deeply by Morgan’s family, friends, colleagues and the firefighting community. All of Parks Canada and Jasper honour Morgan and mourn with you. He will always be remembered.”

The Calgary Police Service also offered its condolences, saying, “Your bravery and unwavering service to Albertans will forever be remembered. Our deepest sympathies to Morgan’s family”

Jasper Wildfire Complex no longer out of control

The service on Saturday also comes as Parks Canada announced the Jasper Wildfire Complex, which was first ignited by lightning as multiple blazes on July 22, is no longer out of control and is now classified as “being held.”

“We’re proud to call this wildfire being held on day 27, especially on the day of Morgan Kitchen’s memorial in Calgary,” a notice from Parks Canada reads.

“All of us here with the Unified Command team have mixed emotions as we make this announcement today. We thank all of the responders involved in helping us achieve this milestone, while also recognizing the loss of Morgan Kitchen, the young firefighter from Calgary who lost his life on August 3, while working to bring this blaze under control.”

Parks Canada says the Jasper wildfire being upgraded from out of control to being held is “what we have all been working towards.”

“But the work isn’t done yet,” the notice reads. “Five hundred and eighty people on the incident continue to work towards ensuring public safety beyond the town, so Jasper National Park can heal.”

Kitchen is survived by his parents, Robert and Joni Avram; his stepparents Marielle Kitchen and Colin Henderson; his siblings Katie, Ryder, Peri, Charlotte, Clotilde, and Clement; his extended family; and a “thick network of friends.”