AMHERSTVIEW, Ontario — Officials confirm that a firefighter was killed while battling an apartment fire in Amherstview on Saturday.
Authorities tell CBC News that Loyalist Township Emergency Services Firefighter Patrick Pidgeon was badly hurt at the scene before succumbing to his injuries. Pidgeon, 45, was a husband, father and Canadian Forces veteran who had served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, along with assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Coroner’s Office, is investigating the cause of the fire.
Counseling has been made available to firefighters and will continue to be available as long as needed, according to the general manager and fire chief for the Town of Greater Napanee.
The fire was contained to the apartment of origin. Three other units suffered smoke damage.
No other injuries were reported. The Red Cross is providing assistance for those occupants unable to return to their apartments.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce this evening, Loyalist Township Emergency Services lost one of its own earlier today.
– Loyalist Fire (@LoyalistFire) July 17, 2016
