Victoria firefighters joined colleagues from the province to honour the life of Captain Ron Hegedus from Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.
The captain, who served for over 24 years, died on Aug.16 from occupational cancer. A funeral procession and motorcade was held in downtown Vancouver on Thursday Sept. 5.
"His bravery and dedication to the community will be remembered as firefighters pay their respects to his family and reflect on his lasting impact," said Victoria Firefighters in a social media post.
On Sunday, Sept. 8., for Firefighters' National Memorial Day, Premier David Eby paid tribute to all firefighters who had lost their lives in the line of service.
“On this solemn day of commemoration, we offer our deepest appreciation for the bravery of those who lost their lives to protect us, our homes and our businesses. Firefighters’ National Memorial Day is a day to honour courage, selflessness and an unwavering commitment to protecting people. It is a mark of their bravery that firefighters run toward danger, even though our instinct is to seek safety and sanctuary."
“Many people in our province stepped up to help those who had to flee the wildfire that ravaged the scenic tourist town of Jasper, Alta," the premier continued. "Among those who lost their homes was a former firefighter on Vancouver Island, whose colleagues in Comox are now rallying around him in support. That exemplifies the spirit of firefighting.
“To those grieving the loss of a loved one, our thoughts are with you on this sombre day. I want to express our profound gratitude for those who risk their own safety and well-being to keep British Columbians safe. You represent the best of us. Thank you.”
