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Tree faller dies on fire line

UPDATE: 4 p.m.

The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died while fighting a wildfire near Sechelt.

He was John Joe Phare, aged 60, of Roberts Creek.

WorkSafeBC along with the BC Coroners Service,the BC Wildfire Service and RCMP are co-ordinating their investigative efforts to determine the circumstance that led to this individual’s death.


A logger from Gibsons was killed Sunday while helping fight a wildfire outside Sechelt.

The 61-year-old tree faller died at the Old Sechelt Mine fire site, 10 kilometres north of the Sunshine Coast community.

WorkSafe B.C. and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the death.

Meanwhile, the fire has grown to 80 hectares in size since it started Thursday night.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said on its Facebook page: "We sign off with heavy hearts tonight. We were saddened to learn that a contract tree faller working with us on the Old Sechelt Mine fire suffered a fatal injury while felling a danger tree earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends, family and co-workers."

Across the province, thousands of residents have been forced from their homes or must be ready to go on a moment's notice as wildfires burn across B.C.



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