A new report says multiple workplace safety violations contributed to the death of a wildfire fighter near Revelstoke last year.
In July 2023, 19-year-old Devyn Gale was killed by a falling tree while fighting a fire in the area.
The findings of WorkSafeBC’s damning investigative report were published Wednesday, showing proper safety procedures were not followed by the BC Wildfire Service.
Factors contributing to Gale’s death reportedly include incomplete assessments, ineffective hazard management, crew members not following safe work procedures, and inadequate supervision.
The report says crews failed to do a proper “dangerous tree assessment” (DTA) for a burning cedar tree in the area.
“The concerns about the burning cedar were discussed further in the group; however, some of the firefighters dismissed them, noting that cedars are typically very strong and can stand for a long time, even if they are burning from the inside out. The consensus was that the firefighters would take a heads-up approach around the burning cedar (that is, remain alert) and stay away from it if they felt uncomfortable,” the report said.
Provincial standards require that if a tree is dangerous, it must be removed or flagged as a “no-work zone.”
The report confirmed that “a no-work zone was not erected, tagged, or flagged to direct any worker’s attention to the hazard of the burning cedar or any other identified dangerous tree, which enabled [Gale] to get within range of the dangerous tree that fell.”
By the time another worker heard the cedar collapse and checked on Gale, the report says she had already sustained fatal injuries. Another firefighter and a supervisor were also reportedly injured while trying to free Gale.
“No forms or templates were completed for any DTAs conducted on the day of the incident… It is not known how much consideration was given to each of the necessary steps of a DTA,” the report said.
WorkSafeBC noted that several members of the crew expressed concerns about the tree before its collapse.
Paul Finch, the president of the BC General Employees’ Union, which represents BCWS workers, says the conditions of Gale’s death are part of a “systemic issue.”
“There’s a broader issue here, and it’s one that we’ve been raising, which is the recruitment and retention issue across the wildfire service. And so we absolutely think that government and the wildfire service need to do a better job of that retaining, and that’s directly linked to issues, experience, and training,” said Finch.
He says the union sees similar situations at other fires, adding that it’s both the employer’s and provincial government’s job to address the issue. Finch says safety protocol gets skipped when supervisors and employees are overworked — an problem that comes back to retention.
“For example, for 55 per cent of crew leaders this year, it’s their first year in that position. And so we need to see more significant retention initiatives to make sure that people in these really key roles can stay in these roles for significant periods of time and ensure that we have that basis,” said Finch.
BC Wildfire service firefighter Devyn Gale is seen in an undated handout photo. Gale is being remembered for her hard work, reliability and positivity by family, friends and members of the BC Wildfire Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
When asked about the report at an unrelated event Wednesday, Premier David Eby said he has advised the BCWS to make a “number of significant changes” so that Gale’s death would not be in vain.
“I have directed the minister to ensure that the BC Wildfire Service has implemented all these recommendations,” said Eby.
“And I want to thank the people at [WorkSafeBC] for thoroughly and independently investigating and making recommendations so we can do our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, Assistant Deputy Minister for the BCWS Rob Rob Schweitzer said the loss of Gale had a “profound impact” on the organization.
“Immediate and specific actions have been taken to enhance safety and training. These include providing customized Danger Tree Awareness training for all BC Wildfire Service staff, increasing Danger Tree Assessor mentorship, and forging stronger partnerships with safety associations to provide training to BC Wildfire Service members,” said Schweitzer.
“We also recognize that there are changes that require long-term solutions. We have adopted changes that include converting Crew Supervisors into year-round positions, enhancing hiring and recruitment, and supporting research partnerships to improve physical and mental health and safety.”
A post on Gale’s Instagram account from 2021 shows her posing with other members of the BC Wildfire Service, with the caption saying that her crew from the Southeastern Fire Centre was “the best.”
She is survived by her parents and two siblings.
—With files from The Canadian Press