RED LAKE, Ont. - Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says an Alberta firefighter has died unexpectedly while he was helping fight wildfires in Ontario.
She says in a statement that Jerry Gadwa, a resident of Kehewin, Alta., was helping with firefighting efforts near the town of Red Lake, about 100 km east of the Manitoba boundary.
Notley says Albertans appreciate the sacrifices of firefighters and other first responders.
She offered the government's condolences to Gadwa's family, friends and colleagues, and says his brave and selfless actions will be remembered.
Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Jeff Yurek, released the following statement Friday evening:
"I learned yesterday that an Alberta wildland firefighter assisting our response to wildfires in Northwestern Ontario has died. Our hearts go out to his family and friends back home, to his crew-members and to all the Alberta firefighters who are helping to keep Ontarians safe.
These brave men and women are working around the clock to help fight these fires. It's dangerous and hard work - they are our first line of defense and they step up each and every time. We're grateful for their efforts and their sacrifices, and for reminding us that we're never stronger than when we work together.
Ontario is fortunate to have fire crews from Mexico to Minnesota; from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island helping to fight the fires burning in northern and central Ontario, alongside our law enforcement, municipalities, Indigenous communities and emergency staff."
No further details were immediately available.
Firefighters in Ontario are battling dozens of forest fires in northern Ontario, many of which are not yet under control.
They're getting help on the ground from crews that have come from across Canada, including Alberta, as well as from the United States and Mexico.
-With files from NEWSTALK1010