A WorkSafeBC report has found several safety failures leading up to the death of a 19-year-old wildfire fighter last summer.
On July 13, 2023, a burning cedar fell on Devyn Gale, fatally injuring her, while she was fighting a wildfire near Revelstoke, B.C., about 150 kilometres east of Kamloops.
Two firefighters were also injured while trying to free Gale, according to the provincial workplace safety agency’s report, which was finalized close to a year after her death.
Based on its investigation, WorkSafeBC called the hazard management and supervision prior to the incident “ineffective” and “inadequate.” It said young, inexperienced firefighters were deployed to the area without sufficient training.
In addition, the agency found the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) has a culture that normalizes risks around dangerous trees even though it is aware of safety concerns related to them.
“This approach to the policies and procedures related to dangerous trees likely contributed to this incident,” said the report, which was obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request.
B.C. wildfire fighters took a moment to remember one of their own on Saturday.
It’s been a year since Devyn Gale, a young firefighter, died battling a fire outside Revelstoke. According to Meagan Deuling, as family, firefighters and community remember Gale, they’re pushing for safety to improve for wildfire fighters.
BCWS executive director David Greer told CBC’s Daybreak South that the service accepts the report. He also said he doesn’t view the case as “gross negligence by certain individuals,” but that the whole organization needs to learn from it and do better.
But he added there are nuances because wildfire crews do not work in a controlled environment.
“It’s a dynamic, complex environment and there’s a lot of pressure on people,” Greer said.
“A lot of the things around danger trees are changing in real time … and the way we look at safety is changing and we have to constantly evolve with it.”
Bruce Ralston, the province’s minister of forests, told CBC News in a statement that his ministry is taking action on all the findings from WorkSafeBC.
The BCWS is also providing customized danger-tree awareness training for all of its staff and converting crew supervisors into year-round positions.
“The safety of B.C. Wildfire Service crew members is our first priority,” Ralston said.