B.C. wildfire fighter, 19, died after being hit by falling tree while responding to blaze: RCMP

A young wildfire fighter who was killed by a falling tree in B.C.'s southern Interior on Thursday is being remembered by friends, family and community leaders as a kind, selfless woman committed to protecting the province and those who call it home.

Devyn Gale, 19, died after being trapped beneath a tree while clearing brush near a small fire in a remote area outside Revelstoke, B.C., on Thursday.

Her brother, Nolan Gale, posted a tribute to his sister on Instagram early Friday.

"Devyn was an amazing sister. She was so kind and thoughtful. She had the best head on her shoulders between herself, my other sister ... and I. She was careful, considerate, hardworking. She was smarter and better at what she did than she gave herself credit for," he wrote.

WATCH | Former gymnastics coach says Devyn Gale was 'so special': 

Gymnastics coach remembers 19-year-old B.C. wildfire fighter

1 year ago

Duration 1:59

Wildfire fighter Devyn Gale spent nine years as a competitive gymnast at Revelstoke Acrobats. Her head coach, Jill Drakes, described their club as a family and said they are all deeply grieving the loss of “one of the most beautiful humans you could ever meet."

"I'm so grateful to have grown up beside her. I'm grateful for everything she's done for me and others, completely out of kindness with no expectation for reciprocation."

Gale is the first wildfire fighter to die in B.C. in almost a decade. Fellow firefighters, community leaders and government officials offered condolences from across the country after her passing. 

"When we think about public service in our province, when we think about commitment to the people of British Columbia, it's hard to think of a more dramatic example of sacrifice ... than putting your life on the line," B.C. Premier David Eby said, speaking from Vancouver on Friday.

WATCH | B.C. Premier David Eby says province is mourning late firefighter:

'It's hard to think of a more dramatic example of sacrifice,' B.C. premier says after firefighter's death

1 year ago

Duration 1:09

B.C. Premier David Eby said the province is mourning Devyn Gale, 19, who died fighting a small wildfire in southeast B.C. on Thursday.

"This is a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She obviously loved the outdoors and had a strong calling to public service, to stepping up for her friends and neighbours. The whole community is reeling. The province is in mourning for her death — that someone so selfless could die during this kind of work.

"On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to say thank you to her."

Area 'extremely dangerous,' RCMP say

Mounties said it was Gale's colleagues who found her beneath the tree and started first aid after losing contact with her during the call.

Gale was airlifted to Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke, where she died from her injuries.

"You have this young 19-year-old who's obviously trying to keep her community and, really, the province safe ... we don't necessarily expect this kind of thing to happen, but it's a reminder of the inherent risk of this type of work," RCMP Cpl. James Grandy said in an interview, adding that the area in which the fire is burning is "extremely dangerous."

"It's commendable that these folks are out there doing this type of thing, keeping communities safe from wildfire, but obviously, we have to be cognizant of the risks that they're all taking in doing so."

WATCH | 19-year-old wildfire fighter dies after being hit by falling tree: 

Firefighter, 19, killed while battling wildfire near Revelstoke, B.C.

1 year ago

Duration 3:11

A 19-year-old firefighter was killed by a falling tree while her crew was battling a wildfire near Revelstoke in B.C.'s central interior. She is being remembered as a kind, selfless woman committed to protecting the province and those who call it home.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) confirmed the death but did not say which fire she was battling. As of Friday morning, three wildfires were burning within 50 kilometres of Revelstoke, a mountain community about 150 kilometres west of the Alberta border.

More than 2,000 wildfire personnel are fighting more than 360 wildfires across B.C. The province has asked for 1,000 additional foreign firefighters to join the160 from Mexico and the United States already in B.C., as well as more federal resources.

"I know the B.C. Wildfire Service is a close-knit team, and this loss is felt deeply. We are here to support them in this difficult time. Let us all do our part to prevent wildfires and think of these brave firefighters as they continue to battle what is becoming a very challenging wildfire season," B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said in a statement.

RCMP and WorkSafeBC are investigating. Grandy said Mounties will be trying to gather any evidence but noted there's nothing to suggest there was any criminal element in Gale's death.

"It just seems like it was a really unfortunate accident at this point," the officer said.

Gale's death is the fourth linked to B.C. wildfires in the past 13 years.

John Phare, 60, was killed in 2015 while working on a blaze on the Sunshine Coast, northwest of Vancouver. Two air tanker pilots, Tim Whiting and Brian Tilley, died when their plane went down south of Lytton in 2010.