A celebration of life for Morgan Kitchen, a wildland firefighter who died battling wildfire near Jasper, Alta., earlier this month, was held in Calgary on Saturday.
Kitchen was struck by a falling tree near the municipality on Aug. 3, just over a week after his 24th birthday. He was a Calgary resident based out of the Rocky Mountain House fire department.
He was laid to rest the same day the evacuation alert for Jasper was lifted, as a large fire in the area became classified as being held after weeks of it being out of control.
The service, which was livestreamed online, was held at Centre Street Church in northeast Calgary, where he was honoured by hundreds of people, including members of the military and his fellow firefighters.
He was known to many as Mack, Kitch or Mo. He served with the Canadian Armed Forces, the British Royal Marines and as a first responder in Alberta.
During the service, Kitchen’s firefighting helmet sat atop his casket draped in a Canadian flag before an altar with Alberta’s provincial flag and a flag bearing the symbol of the Canadian Public Union of Employees.
The stirring sounds of bagpipes and guitars filled the church along with sombre songs — including a video of one sung by Kitchen himself — coupled with a slideshow of photos from throughout his life.
A ‘will of steel,’ says mother
Kitchen’s mother, Joni Avram, described her son as a man with a “will of steel” who lived life to the fullest.
“He was as courageous, charismatic, intelligent and passionate as anyone so young could be,” she said. “He lived life loud and he lived it large.”
Avram said she was proud that her son did what he loved, and that he was a hero.
“May all of us live with the same intensity, unshakable courage, active love and enduring impact that Morgan packed into his short but meaningful life,” she said.
Kitchen’s younger sister, Katie, recounted their youth together and said she remembers her brother as her greatest ally and the only constant in each others’ lives.
“He was an absolutely one-of-a-kind human being,” she said.
Clotilde, Kitchen’s elder sister, said her brother was intelligent enough to do anything he set his mind to; however, he chose to use his intellect to help others.
“A bright, charismatic, kind and loving light in the lives of everyone he touched,” she said.
Remembered as friend and adventurer
Kitchen’s father, Robert, said he was thankful for the time he spent with his son, and that his character was defined by love.
“He was honest and trustworthy. He was an adventurer, a warrior, an explorer. He had a strong humourous side. He was a mentor, a comfort always present for people and a great friend,” he said.
The service concluded with the ceremonial ringing of the bell, which symbolizes love and respect, as well as the end of service for a fallen firefighter.
Kitchen is survived by his parents, step-parents and six siblings.
A Calgary firefighter has died after being hit by a falling tree while fighting a wildfire burning northeast of Jasper, Alta. Fellow firefighters and first responders paid tribute to the 24-year-old by lining the procession route out of the national park.